Madison Roy-Boudreau is due to celebrate her 15th birthday on Wednesday. Instead, her family mourns her loss.
“We hope she has a very happy heavenly birthday,” says Maggie Lavigne.
Lavigne has taken on the role of family spokesman – as Roy-Boudreau’s family continues to struggle with the disappearance of the teenager last May.
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Bathurst, NB community mourns as Madison Roy-Boudreau continues murder investigation
In the eight months since Madison went missing, her birthday is the latest milestone her family has had to mark without her.
“Christmas was not normal, Thanksgiving was not normal, nothing is normal,” says Lavigne.
In August, Bathurst police uploaded a video in which they stated that they believed Roy-Boudreau was the victim of a murder.
They did not indicate what evidence led them to that conclusion, or what they believe happened to her after she was seen climbing into a gray Ford Ranger on May 11th. Nor did they say who – if anyone – was considered a suspect.
“We just hope that whatever the police have to consider it a murder, that they have the right evidence and they can make it quickly and bring it to rest.”
Global News reached out to Bathurst police on Wednesday for any updates, but did not hear back.
The latest information released by the force was the temporary suspension of searches in September.
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Bathurst Mayor Kim Chamberlain says the teenager’s disappearance has shaken the community.
“It’s heartbreaking,” she says. “I know no one in the community forgets.”
Lavigne says several exhausting community-organized searches have been held through the summer – with more planned for the day the snow melts.
She says a number of memorials planned for Roy-Boudreau’s birthday have been scaled down due to the province’s COVID-19 restrictions.
Lavigne says the community support kept the family going.
“All the support, donations, all the positivity, thank you, thank you, thank you,” she says.
She appeals to anyone who thinks they may have information about Madison’s disappearance to contact Bathurst Police or the New Brunswick RCMP – not the family.
“We get it daily,” Lavigne says of people who give tips and suggestions. “They handle enough as it is.”
Bathurst Police are asking anyone with information about the disappearance of Madison Roy-Boudreau to call them at (506) 548-0420 (option # 2).
Information can also be provided anonymously by Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
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