An Ontario mother is in a frantic search for information regarding her 16-year-old son, who disappeared after traveling to Pelican Narrows, Sask. Jay’siiah Webb-Long hails from Brampton, Ont., residing with his mother Shenice Long and four siblings.
Long revealed that her last contact with her son was through Instagram in mid-May, with the last physical sighting at home dating back to mid-March. Webb-Long left home one evening to visit a friend’s place, assuring his return shortly, but he never came back.
Concerningly, Long noted peculiarities in their video calls, with obscured backgrounds and Webb-Long holding the phone too close for a clear view. The RCMP’s major crimes unit took over the investigation on May 5, disclosing that Webb-Long departed Ontario in March prior to heading to Saskatchewan.
Despite locating the suspected residence in Pelican Narrows, part of Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation, approximately 420 kilometers north of Saskatoon, authorities were informed that the teen had evacuated due to wildfires, prompting the case to be treated as suspicious.
Long’s attempts to file a missing persons report with Peel Regional Police in late March were initially hindered due to ongoing communication between her and Webb-Long, allegedly staying with an unnamed friend. Subsequent inquiries to her cousin, with whom Webb-Long often spent time, yielded no leads, intensifying Long’s concerns.
As Webb-Long missed his 16th birthday celebration in April and failed to return home, Long’s anxiety escalated. Subsequently, she reported him missing to Peel Police on April 20, eventually discovering in June that he had been traced to Pelican Narrows.
The revelation came from an 18-year-old woman in Toronto who contacted Long after a public missing persons notice surfaced on June 15, providing valuable information obtained from phone conversations with Webb-Long.
The RCMP’s major crimes unit continues to investigate Webb-Long’s disappearance, conducting interviews, evidence collection, and pursuing leads, though no further details are currently available. Long appeals for information on her son’s whereabouts, emphasizing the family’s relentless efforts to spread awareness through social media.
Long, navigating the emotional turmoil alongside her concerned family, stresses the urgency of Webb-Long’s safe return, highlighting the impact on his siblings who dearly miss him.
