On the fifth day of the disappearance of Jade Fortier, this 14-year-old girl missing since Monday, her family is still without news.
Information arrived during the day, explains Jade Fortier’s father* on the phone. But often unverifiable information, from friends of the teenager or social networks.
She would have been seen on a bus en route to the city of Saint-Hubert, for example. Or she plans to leave for Alberta tonight. “It’s a lot of information, but half of it, which is not verifiable, explains Pascale Smith, the teenager’s mother. But each time, we call the investigator. »
Good news: the other 15-year-old girl who had been reported missing the same day was found in Varennes, according to the Longueuil agglomeration police department. ” [Elle] spoke to Jade regularly during her runaway, underlines the father of this one. They were sometimes together, but not always. She doesn’t say anything else. »
“At least we know that she is not sequestered [quelque part]it’s news anyway, ”adds Mme Smith.
“I just want her to be safe”
The parents continue to ask questions about the supervision measures implemented in the place where Jade was staying. For them, that their 14-year-old daughter can go out as she pleases, despite her behavioral problems and her history of running away, is incomprehensible. “What is it going to take for someone to prevent him from getting out of there?, wonders Mme Smith. I find that it lacks measures, even if I understand that it is limited. »
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As the days pass, anxiety increases for the family. “It is sure that it is stressful, reports the father. It’s a lot of angst. It’s hard to think of anything else. »
Pascale Smith hopes that talking about Jade publicly will help the young girl understand that her family has not rejected her. “She will see that we do not make fun of her, that we love her, that we do something, she hopes. I just want her to be safe. We protect those we love. »
An epidemic of disappearances
In recent days, many disappearances of teenagers have been reported in different cities of Quebec. On Friday evening, the Laval Police Department issued a press release asking for the public’s help in locating 15-year-old Océanne Jerome Brisebois. She was last seen on Tuesday. With dyed red hair and blue eyes, her family is concerned for her safety.
A 16-year-old boy was reported missing in Montreal on Thursday, only to be found on Friday. The same day, the Sûreté du Québec published a wanted notice for Gabriel Lecours, 17 years old, vanished in Saint-Hyacinthe since November 28, ie for 11 days.
On Tuesday, it was a 14-year-old girl, Linda Aquaituk Kirshner, who had last been seen in Montreal, in the Kirkland area, the previous Saturday. The same day, a notice was published by Yasmine Satib, 16, by the Longueuil agglomeration police department. His disappearance dates back almost a month.
This is also why Jade Fortier’s family wants to speak publicly. In their view, questions must be asked when so many adolescents find themselves in danger. Like their daughter.
*The Press granted anonymity to the father of Jade Fortier for security reasons.