Autopsy underway for body found

ORO-MEDONTE TOWNSHIP, Ont. – An autopsy is being performed today on a body police believe to be that of missing teen Brandon Crisp. The remains were found in a wooded area near Barrie, just north of Toronto on Wednesday.

"It's believed that the body is Brandon Crisp," Sgt. Dave Goodbrand of the Barrie Police told a crush of reporters late Wednesday, standing beside OPP Const. George Silvestri on a narrow road not far from the cornfield where hunters reportedly came across the body.

"We are definitely moved by this. This is obviously a very tragic day," added Goodbrand.

Silvestri said foul play is not suspected in the 15-year-old boy's death. He left his home after quarrelling with his parents over the amount of time he spent playing video games.

Police said they have sent the body to Forensic Investigation Services to determine the cause of death.

"Everyone adopted Brandon as one of their own. The investigators are as upset as anybody," said Silvestri.

"There is no fear in the community," he said. "Oro-Medonte is a safe community."

On Wednesday afternoon, an assembly was held at the teen's high school, St. Joseph's Secondary School, in Barrie.

Diane Legg, a spokeswoman for the Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board, said it was a "tragic, sad day" and it was very emotional at the school as the students gathered in the gym, many breaking down in tears.

Even without the body's official identification, condolences to the Crisp family began pouring into a Facebook website dedicated to finding Brandon.

"R.I.P. Brandon," wrote one person. "What a very sad day . . . May you find the strength to get through this tragedy together," another wrote.

Brandon had been missing since Thanksgiving Day. He was last seen Oct. 13 on the Oro-Medonte Rail Trail, a popular hiking and biking path.

There was speculation the teen had been lured on the Internet, possibly by someone who played the same video game that his parents said Brandon was "hooked on."

A massive search included ground, air and cyberspace, with Barrie police working closely with Microsoft to investigate Brandon's online contacts. The computer gaming company teamed with a local newspaper to offer a $50,000 reward for any information leading to the boy's whereabouts.

The Crisps say for the past three years, their son has been obsessed with playing an online game called Call of Duty 4, often until 4 a.m.

The search drew worldwide attention because many parents identified with the Crisps' frustration at seeing Brandon's obsession with the video game.

"This kid was on this before school, in the evening, all night long," recalled Rick Watson, owner of a Barrie video store that Brandon frequented. "I can sympathize."

He described Brandon as a small, shy boy.

"I remember the last time he came in with his mother and his twin sister," recalled Heide Demaria, manager of the video store. "He wanted a game. She (his mother) said no. She stood her ground."

Despite the camaraderie that Brandon found among participants with whom he connected on the web, it appears the teen had no one to turn to when he pedalled away from his home in a new subdivision of Barrie. And he never found out about the outpouring of sympathy that flooded the town after his disappearance.

"I just felt really bad for Sam (Samantha, Brandon's twin sister)," said student Megan Hobbs. Hobbs, 15, attends Barrie North high school, near Crisp's school. "I have a twin, so I couldn't even imagine what she's going through. I was just really shocked. I really had hopes that he would be found alive."

With files from Global News, National Post

© Canwest News Service 2008