‘A new nightmare began for us all’
St. Stephen teen Brayden Thibault went missing in Fredericton in 2017, and police deemed it homicide in 2019; RCMP renews public plea for information about what happened to him
“Seven years is too long, one day is too long,” Amanda Frigault wrote on social media this week, referring to her son’s disappearance. “I’m his mama; I’m supposed to know where he is!”
The desperate mother renewed her plea for information on the whereabouts of Brayden Thibault, 17, as did the RCMP in a news release Wednesday.
The Mounties said Wednesday marked the seven-year anniversary since the St. Stephen teenager went missing, and it renewed its appeal for tips from the public in the case.
The release noted Brayden was last seen the afternoon of July 31, 2017, on Gibson Street on Fredericton’s north side.
“Over the last seven years, police have followed up on many investigative leads but have been unsuccessful in locating him,” the release said.
“Brayden Thibault's disappearance had been considered suspicious, and in July 2019, the RCMP's major crime unit began investigating it as a homicide.”
In a post on Facebook on Tuesday, Frigault wrote of the pain of having to deal with the news her boy wouldn’t be coming home.
“I remember having to break the hearts of his siblings, his closest friends and his family, telling them Brayden wouldn’t be coming home,” she wrote.
“All our prayers unanswered, the begging and pleading fell on deaf ears, and a new nightmare began for us all.”
RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Hans Ouellette said the missing teenager’s family has gone too long without answers.
"Today marks seven years that Brayden has been gone and his family has been seeking answers and closure," he said in the release.
"We want to give them that closure. We know that there are people who know what happened to Brayden and people that can help us bring him home. We are asking those people to do the right thing."
Frigault urged anyone with information to provide it, even anonymously.
“Cowards took my boy from me,” she wrote. “Please be the hero who gives him back.”
Anyone with information about Brayden’s disappearance and death is asked to call the New Brunswick RCMP's major crime unit at 1-800-506-7267. Those wishing to provide tips anonymously can do so through Crime Stoppers by calling 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or by submitting information online through Secure Web Tips at www.crimenb.ca.
Don MacPherson can be contacted at ftonindependent@gmail.com.