Search for Cooper Nemeth expands into downtown Winnipeg

Friends, familyand volunteerscommitted to finding missing 17-year-old Cooper Nemeth expanded their search Wednesday night to downtown Winnipeg.

Gateway Recreation Centre has become the searchgroup's headquarters since Nemethwas reported missingfour days ago. After searching the East and North Kildonan areas, as well as parts of East St. Paul, searchers fanned out across downtown Winnipeg.

Teresa Smith, who went to school with Cooper's fatherBrentNemeth, has been helping out with the search.

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"If it was my family, If I needed that type of help, I would certainly appreciate and need the foot powerthat we can provide," Smith said.

Nemeth'sparents issuedan emotional plea earlierWednesday at a police news conference asking their son to "please come home."

RAW: Brent Nemeth makes heartfelt plea for son's safe return

9 years ago

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"All we want is for Cooper to come home safe," his father, Brent Nemeth, told reporters on Wednesday afternoon. This was the first time his parents spoke publicly since Nemeth was last seen in the early morning hours of Sunday.

SamanthaKittnergoes to school withNemethand alsohelped searchWednesday.Nemethis a senior at River East Collegiate and plays centre for the River East Marauders hockey team.

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"I just feel like everybody should do their part to try and find him," she said.

Possible witnesses

Police are looking for two potential witnessesone named Brittany, one named Derek they believe may have last seenNemeth, who has been missing since the weekend.

After playing in a hockeygame on Saturday,Nemethwent to a friend's house onAmeliaCrescent along with a 22-year-old man his auntLaresaSayleshas said is known to police.

Nemethand the man then went to a party in the Sun Valley area, according to police, and that's where the teen was last seen.

"I can't just sit. I love this kid, you know?And I would absolutely do anything for him and I want to find him alive," Sayles said."I'm not giving up,I can't. I can't until I know an answer."

Nemethwas diagnosed withADHD, anxiety anddepression in the past year.The familyis concernedhe has turned todrugsin an attempt to cope with his diagnoses.

He was last seenwearing a black jacket with a River East Marauders hockey logo on the front.

Police are askinganyone with information on his whereabouts to call204-986-6250.