On the one-year anniversary of his death, the parents of Penhold teen Logan Raymond made an emotional plea for potential witnesses to come forward with any new information.
“The last place we thought we'd be today, one year later, is here again pleading for the public's assistance in finding the person or persons responsible for the death of our son Logan,” Tammy Raymond said Aug. 11 at a press conference held not far from where her son's lifeless body was discovered at the side of Hwy. 2A just south of Red Deer in the early morning hours of Aug. 12, 2010.
“In our hearts we know the truth is out there and are begging you to come forward with any information you may have. No matter how small you may believe it may be sometimes the puzzle pieces just need to be put together.”
Fighting through tears Logan's father, Kimbal Raymond, said the lack of answers means the family is continually living a nightmare.
“It's bad enough to lose him but to not be able to know and have some sort of closure and justice – it's hard, it's very hard … we keep hoping somebody will do the right thing and come forward,” Kimbal said, admitting he thinks of his son constantly. “Somebody knows something and in order to put Logan to rest, we need that. For a family we need it for closure.”
Seventeen-year-old Logan was last seen alive between 12:40 and 12:50 a.m. on Aug. 12, 2010 walking south on Hwy. 2A towards Penhold after leaving a house party in Red Deer. The sightings were in the area of the off-ramp at the intersection of Hwy. 2A and QEII, just northwest of the Word of Life Church. Logan was later discovered dead at the side of the road at about 1:15 a.m., a short distance from where witnesses last reported seeing him. He died of severe head trauma.
Police believe Raymond was either struck by a vehicle or a portion of a vehicle, or fell from inside or outside a moving vehicle. Blackfalds RCMP detachment commander Staff Sgt. Gord Glasgow said following discussions with the medical examiner the more likely scenario was that Logan fell from a moving vehicle, though police continue to investigate both possibilities.
During the early stages of the investigation police identified a vehicle of interest – a small dark grey or blue truck with a matching topper described as having dark windows in the back with no windows along the side of the topper.
The vehicle was possibly an older model Ford Ranger with prominent lettering indented along the tailgate that spelt out “FORD.”
Glasgow said investigators had no new information, even after interviewing dozens of witnesses in relation to the case. He said police have been unable to identify the vehicle, the people responsible, or what role the vehicle of interest played in Logan's death. He encouraged witnesses to come forward with information, no matter how trivial they think it may be.
“It might be the piece that's required for us to move ahead,” Glasgow explained.
In January the family posted a $10,000 reward through Crime Stoppers for any information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for Logan's death. Tammy said the reward will remain in place until January 2012, at which point the family will decide whether to let it stand. Fighting through tears, Tammy pleaded with witnesses to make the call and pray every day they will receive the answers they need.
“The pain is as strong today as it was a year ago. We have no idea how to put the pieces of our lives back together without knowing. We need justice for Logan and we need some closure for our family.”
