Mother of missing Edmonton teen Samuel Bird appeals to the public to keep looking

The mother of a missing youth in Edmonton is appealing to the public to continue to support her efforts to find her son. Alanna Joseph spoke to the community and reporters at the volunteer led search command post for Samuel Bird in an Edmonton park Saturday, one day before his fifteenth birthday. “It doesn’t even feel real yet,” Joseph told reporters. “I know he hasn’t been here for a long time, and I really miss him.” Searchers have been concentrating their efforts around the South Saskatchewan River over the summer, but Joseph is asking anyone with land in the Edmonton area be on the lookout. “I am just wanting to ask Edmonton and surrounding areas, or anyone that has an acreage or farm or even just driving down the backroads to just keep any eye out. If you see anything on your farm or anything suspicious, or even if you smell something, or you dog’s been wanting to go that way, to just give it a quick look around your property,” Joseph said. “You never know, and obviously, if anyone has any information to please still come forward to the Edmonton Police.” Family and supporters also gathered Sunday to celebrate Bird’s birthday as the search and investigation into what happened to him continued. They released balloons and sang happy birthday with one supporter noting while it was good to see the community come together, they would prefer for the family be able to celebrate Samuel in in his home. Edmonton police have confirmed for APTN News that a search warrant was carried out at a west Edmonton residence last Thursday. Edmonton TV news outlets showed footage of officers going into a home with guns drawn, but police have so far not revealed what, if anything, was found. Bird has been missing since the evening of June 1. According to Edmonton police, he was last seen leaving his home to visit a friend in the Canora neighbourhood in west Edmonton and was later reported to be seen leaving the friend’s home on foot. Bird never made it home. Joseph has been tireless in her efforts to find her son. In an interview with APTN on Sept. 3, she explained how she’s been coping with Samuel’s disappearance. “I feel like if I really feel my feelings right now, I think I would kind of shut down. So, I’m really trying to be strong for my girls and find their brother so we can lay him to rest and finally start to grieve,” she said. “I really just want to find Samuel before winter comes.” With files from Chris Stewart Continue Reading