Three weeks have passed, and there is still no sign of Barrie, Ontario teenager Brandon Crisp, who left home after a dispute over his parents taking away his Xbox 360, to which his parents believe he may be addicted. Since then, Microsoft has contributed to the reward fund, while concerns have arisen that Brandon may no longer be in Canada. The story has gone on to be picked up by outlets such as America’s Most Wanted, and now, ABC News.
On Friday, Oct. 10, the Crisps learned the boy, whose grades were slipping, had skipped school the day before, and they decided to take away his Xbox temporarily, as they had about 20 times before, Steve Crisp said. But when Crisp saw that Brandon had found the system and resumed playing it while his father was out fishing that weekend, he said he decided to take it away permanently.
“He was very angry,” Crisp said. When the father and son sat down to talk about Brandon’s obsession with the system, the game “Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare” in particular, Brandon’s response was “OK, I’m going to leave home then.”
Calling his son’s bluff, Crisp said he advised him to take warm clothes when he saw Brandon loading things into a backpack. He then watched as his only son rode away on his bicycle. The family, which includes Brandon’s twin sister and older sister, figured he’d blow off some steam with friends and be back that evening.
“I didn’t think anyone would run off for a game,” Crisp said.
Police have spread their search out, finding Brandon’s bike with a flat tire on the night that he left.
Police, with Microsoft Canada’s cooperation, have begun looking into who Brandon may have come in contact with through “Call of Duty 4,” despite privacy laws to protect gamers.
“At this point the investigation would lead us to believe there is no connection to the Xbox,” Goodbrand said.
Now, concerns grow deep about what could possibly have happened.
Crisp said he hopes Brandon broke into one of the several holiday cottages along the trail and is holed up there and safe, too angry or embarrassed to come home. But he said his worst fear is that his son has been either abducted or lured away by a gamer he met online.
Goodbrand said that with so few leads, anything is possible. Police have even notified the border patrol, as Barrie is about 2 ½ hours north of Buffalo, N.Y.
If anyone has any information, they can call 705-725-7025 to reach the Barrie police.
This has definitely taken a most grim turn. Hopefully everything will turn out okay soon.
