It鈥檚 been nearly two months since the family of a missing Montreal boy last saw their loved one, but they haven鈥檛 given up the search and now plan to ramp up the awareness campaign.
The family of Ariel Kouakou, 10, have set up two billboards in their neighbourhood of Ahuntsic-Cartierville, Que., and added several new posters in hopes of alerting someone who might know the whereabouts of their son.
Kouakou went missing on March 12 when he left his home to visit a friend and never returned. Search efforts for the boy have yielded little information, but the family believes the lack of clues is a cause for optimism.
鈥淥ur hope is based on the fact that no news (is) good news,鈥� Kouadio Frederic Kouakou, Ariel鈥檚 father, told reporters on Wednesday. 鈥淭here's no clue our son has been to the river, so if there's no clue there, for us our son is somewhere.鈥�
Police had been searching the waters of the nearby Riviere des Prairie under the theory that Ariel had drowned after falling into the river. On April 2, police called off searching the water and pledged to continue searching on land.
Kouakou says he's in contact with the police, but they have thus far been unable to confirm his theory as to what happened to his son.
鈥淔rom the beginning that鈥檚 what we鈥檝e been saying鈥ur kid鈥檚 been kidnapped,鈥� he said.
The new campaign includes a stronger link to Info-Crime, Montreal鈥檚 version of Crime Stoppers. Jean Touchette, president of Info-Crime, says they鈥檝e already received more than 600 calls concerning Ariel and would welcome all other tips.
鈥淪ometimes, the little things we think: 鈥業t's not important. I'm not going to call because maybe I'm going to disturb.鈥� Nobody disturbs Info-Crime Montreal,鈥� he said.
Among those offering support for the Kouakou family is Michel Surprenent, whose daughter Julie went missing back in 1999. He says the most important thing for the family is to keep the campaign alive so people remember to keep an eye out for their son.
鈥淵ou have to stay active,鈥� he said. 鈥淚f you stay active you have the chance to fight, if you don't stay active the history is going to be lost in time.鈥�
With a report from CTV Montreal鈥檚 Tarah Schwartz
