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'Something is wrong': Sudbury mom desperately searches for son last seen December 3 (4 photos)

Branden Bodson-Gratton, who suffers from schizophrenia, left his rooming house without his winter coat, bank card or keys

Diane Gratton says her son, 25-year-old Branden Bodson-Gratten, has challenges.

He sometimes does hallucinogenic drugs, which exacerbates his schizophrenia — the temptation is always there to self-medicate when you have a serious mental health condition, she said.

But no matter what was happening in his life, Branden was always in touch with his mom and other close family members. She said he's a very social person and would always seek out help if he wasn't feeling well.

That's what makes the fact that he hasn't been seen or heard from since Monday, Dec. 3 so out of character.

“I'm his go-to person,” Diane said. “That's the biggest red flag, him not calling me… So something is wrong.”

On Sunday, Dec. 2, Branden told his mom he had taken drugs, and she told him to flush them. 

On the morning of Monday, Dec. 3, Branden talked to several family members on the phone, including his mother — he told her he'd flushed most of his drugs.

He was supposed to be picked up later that day by his aunt, who was going to bring him to camp.

Then, at 5:12 p.m. Dec. 3, Branden was dropped off by a cab on Elm Street, close to his home in a rooming house on Elgin Street, near the Grand Theatre.

That's the last time Bodson-Gratton has been seen by anyone for nearly two weeks now.

The next day, Tuesday, Dec. 4, Branden's father went to check on him, and found the door to his room unlocked and his four-month-old kitten unfed and roaming the halls.

His winter coat, bank card and keys were all inside the room.

At that point, family members started to get worried, and on Dec. 5, Bodson-Gratton was reported missing to Greater Sudbury Police.

“The information was sent out to the media and the public after the initial information was gathered,” said police spokesperson Kaitlyn Dunn in an email to Sudbury.com.

“There is a concern for his well-being due to the prolonged period of time that his family has not heard from him.”

The same day, Dec. 5, Bodson-Gratton's cellphone was found by someone in the parking lot of the John Howard Society on Pine Street, Diane said. She said the person who found the phone charged it, and answered when family members called the number.

Since that time, Branden's friends, family members and complete strangers, as well as Greater Sudbury Police's search and rescue team, have been scouring the downtown and Elm West areas. Volunteers have been putting up posters in local businesses.

“Officers have and will continue to canvas the area for video and information,” said the statement from police. “Our Missing Persons Investigator and Coordinator continue to follow up on any information that comes in from the public. Anyone with information on his whereabouts or video surveillance in the area is asked to contact police.”

Diane worries that he may have been lured or coerced out of his rooming house — Greater Sudbury Police have received a tip to that effect.

“That kind of makes sense, if his keys are there, his bank card and his coat,” she said, wondering if his disappearance may be related to a drug debt. “That's up in the air. That's not confirmed or anything. That's just a tip that the police are looking into.”

Diane has a message for her son, should he happen to read this article. “Give me a call, give me a text,” she said. “We love you.”

Branden Bodson-Gratton is described as 5-10, 155 pounds with short brown hair and hazel eyes. 

Anyone with information is asked to contact Greater Sudbury Police at 705-675-9171 or Crime Stoppers at 705-222-TIPS (8477) or SudburyCrimeStoppers.com.

– Sudbury.com



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