Except translation, this story has not been edited by achinews staff and is published from a syndicated feed.
Devon Marsman would have turned 19 on Sunday, October 7 – but sadly, he’s not around to celebrate.
“I want my son to remember that he was truly loved, and I was blessed to have him,” said his mother, Theresa Gray.
“He was a great kid, like a great kid, that’s how I want him to be remembered.”
A gathering was held in Halifax over the weekend to call for justice in Devon’s death, as three people were accused of murdering him.
Devon was 16 when he went missing in February 2022. On 17 September this year, Halifax Regional Police announced that they had found remains believed to belong to Devon, and that two individuals—including Devon’s cousin— charged in connection with his death.
Treyton Alexander Marsman, 26, has been charged with second degree murder, desecration of human remains, and obstruction of justice. A 20-year-old man who was a teenager at the time of the murder is charged with accessory after the fact to murder and obstruction of justice.
Emma Maria Meta Casey, 23, was arrested a week later and faces charges of accessory after the fact to murder, indifference to human remains, and obstruction of justice.
During the gathering on Sunday, his family shared the deep impact Devon’s death has had on them.
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“When Devon first went missing, I hung up the posters, I walked through the park one day, tears welling up in my eyes, and I said, ‘Dear Lord, give me some answers for Devon,’ ” said his father, Ritchie Marsman. .
Gray also remembered those painful days after Devon’s disappearance.
“My son never left my house before telling me he loved me, and I know that if he was traded, he would have found a way to reach out to me, because he knew I would go to whatever length to get it back,” she said.
The family say they will continue to fight for justice as the case goes through the court system. They are also calling for an end to youth violence – a goal shared by the community advocacy group, Game Changer 902.
“As we grieve, we also have to ask ourselves, how many more young people do we have to lose before we say, ‘This is enough,'” said group co-founder DeRico Symonds.
Its co-founder, Trayvone Clayton, said that change must come from the efforts of the community.
“We need much more for our youth. A lot more programs for our youth, in our schools we need a lot more community involvement for our youth.”
A celebration of life will take place once Devon’s remains are returned to his family.
& copy 2024 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
(Except translation, this story has not been edited by achinews staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
source link https://globalnews.ca/news/10797864/devon-marsman-gathering-homicide/
