Prince George, B.C.- There is  a glimmer of hope in the search for Lucas Degerness who has been missing since June of 2007.

(photo at right of Lucas  as he  appeared  in 2007 at the age of 14 – photo 250News archive)

The Canadian Centre for Child Protection’s MissingKids.ca program in Winnipeg says it recently received a call from a male who claimed to be Lucas Degerness.  “The nature of the call has provided renewed hope that Lucas is out there, but also significant concern for his safety and well-being,” said Christy Dzikowicz, Director of MissingKids.ca. “We need the public’s help to find him. Even the smallest piece of information could help bring Lucas home. His mom is desperate to see him again.”

In June 2007, after a meeting at his school with his mom and vice-principal, then 14-year-old Lucas spent the night at a friend’s place before disappearing the following day. He was thought to be carrying a large camouflage backpack. His family has not seen him since that day seven years ago. Lucas’ 21st birthday was this January, another milestone his mom, Gina Degerness, marked without her son. 

“If I could talk to Luke right now, I would say that I have missed you every single day. Please know that all we want is to hear from you and to know that you are okay,” said Gina. “We’ve missed so much of your life already, and we don’t want to lose any more time.  We want you to come home.”

Lucas has brown eyes and at the time of his disappearance he had brown hair, a medium build and was 5’8” tall.

Lucas’  mother has issued this public message to her son:

“For the past seven years, not a day has gone by where I haven’t thought of you, Luke and asked myself where you might be.  Although you’re a young man now, I still wonder if you’re safe or if you need help, if maybe you need your mom. I don’t want to have to ask myself these questions every day for the rest of my life. I don’t want your little sister to experience another seven years without her brother. I know how much you adore her and I want us to all be together again. She needs her brother and I need my son. Your older brother and sister have children they would like you to meet and your father, he desperately wants to hear your voice. There’s so many major life events that we want to share with you.  Luke – if you read this, I just want to know that you’re okay. It doesn’t matter what’s happened in the past so please call me, or someone who can share the message with me that you’re safe. If anyone sees this and has even the smallest piece of information as to where my son might be or what may have happened to him, please do the right thing and end this misery by calling MissingKids.ca,”
–  Gina Degerness

Prince George RCMP media Liaison Corporal Craig Douglass says the RCMP are aware of this latest development “The investigation into the disappearance of  Lucas Degerness remains a priority, if there is anyone who has information  about Lucas,  they are asked to  get in touch with  the RCMP.”  Information can be  given to police directly or by calling Crime Stoppers at 1(800)222-8477, online at www.pgcrimestoppers.bc.ca or Text-A-Tip to CRIMES (274637) using keyword "pgtips".

You may also  contact  MissingKids.ca at 1-866-KID-TIPS (543-8477) .Tips can also be submitted online at missingkids.ca.