RCMP are still trying to solve the mystery of how a Penhold teen died along Hwy 2A in August.
And Logan Raymond’s parents are still trying to come to grips with the tragedy.
A vehicle was involved but police don’t know how. Raymond, 17, was found on the side of Hwy 2A, just south of the city’s limits directly west of the Word of Life Church, at about 1:30 a.m. on Aug. 12.
He died from head trauma, with some other injuries from hitting the pavement.
“Typically when you’re struck by a vehicle, there are further injuries, more than what we saw with Mr. Raymond,” said Red Deer Rural RCMP Cpl. Phil Penny at a press conference on Tuesday along the road where the teen’s body was found.
It is possible that Raymond was struck by a vehicle or some part of a vehicle, fell or left a vehicle.
“Given the scene, the location of some of the debris, Mr. Raymond’s body, it seems to suggest a vehicle was involved somehow.”
Penny said Raymond’s body was found near the green England Way road sign and his belongings strewn 10 to 15 metres north along the highway. No tire tracks were found at the scene.
A memorial of withered and artificial flowers, deflated balloons and a couple teddy bears sit beside a white cross bearing Raymond’s name planted by the road sign.
His parents. Kimbal Raymond. and his ex-wife. Tammy Raymond. say they need answers. “Nothing we say today will bring him back. But we won’t stop until we find out what happened. We have to,” his mother said while wiping away tears.
Several people have contacted police. A vehicle seen stopped in the area was described as a small truck, dark gray or blue with a matching topper. It had dark windows in the back and no windows on the sides of the topper. It was possibly a older model Ford Ranger with ‘Ford’ in large red lettering on the back tailgate.
Red Deer City RCMP Cpl. Kathe DeHeer said it is not known if the vehicle was involved. The driver and occupants are not suspects. Police just want to find out if they saw anything.
“This is a very busy stretch of road between Red Deer and Springbrook and Penhold. There may have been a lot of people out for movies in Gasoline Alley or coming home on that road,” DeHeer said.
The brown-haired teen was wearing a dark brown hooded sweatshirt, white T-shirt with a blue logo on the chest, blue jeans with a black and green checkered belt, and brown and black runners.
That night, Raymond was at a house party in Red Deer near the Fas Gas on 32nd Avenue. According to friends, he did drink alcohol but did not consume much.
At 11:30 p.m., he called his father in Penhold and told his father he was going to stay the night with his mother in Red Deer.
Raymond was last seen at 12:15 a.m. walking alone, southbound on Taylor Drive in the middle of the right-hand lane.
Police say no one knows why he was walking towards Penhold, which was uncharacteristic of Raymond.
Anyone with information can call Red Deer Rural RCMP at 403-343-5591 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
szielinski@www.reddeeradvocate.com