Hundreds search for missing Winnipeg teen Cooper James Nemeth

Hundreds of people gathered at a Winnipeg community centre today to begin searching for a teen who went missing on the weekend.

Cooper JamesNemeth, 17,was last seen during the early morningofFeb.14.

Hundreds search for missing Winnipeg teen Cooper James Nemeth

9 years ago

Duration 1:56

Hundreds of people gathered at a Winnipeg community centre today to begin searching for a teen who went missing on the weekend.

"I just want you to come home so [your parents] can hug you and tell you they love you," his aunt LaresaSaylessaid.

"My heart goes out to all the families that have ever had to deal with this. It's not a joke, this is real.I hope we can get an honest answer."

He had a hockey game Saturday evening. After the game, Nemethwent to a friend's house on Amelia Crescentwith a 22-year-old man who Sayles saidis known to police.

Nemeth and the man then went on to aparty in the Sun Valleyarea, according to police, and that's where he was last seen.

I just want you to come home so [your parents] can hug you and tell you they love you.- LaresaSayles

Sayles and others distributed flyers and mounted a search for Nemeth from Gateway Community Centre Monday afternoon.

"We've got a lot of 'he said, she said' stories we're just looking for real facts,"Saylessaid. "We just want Cooper to come home and be safe."

Nemeth's phone last registered a signal at10:34 p.m. Sunday in the Valley Gardens area, Sayles said.

"We got a one-to three-kilometre radius there. We don't know if the battery just died or if the phone was tossed or turned off at this point off."

David Townsend, one of Nemeth'sGrade 12teachers at River East Collegiate, has already scoured Valley Gardens, Harbourview, McIvor Park and areas in the northeast part of the city looking for his student.

"I'm concerned for his well-being,"said Townsend. "I just want him found."

Family says he had 'tough year'

Sayles said her nephew has a 3 a.m. curfew and has never disappeared like this before.

He has had a "tough year,"Sayles said, adding Nemethwas diagnosed withADHDin the past year.

He is currentlyon medications and hisparents are vigilant about makingsure he takes them, Sayles said.

The familyis concernedhe has turned todrugsin an attempt to cope with his diagnoses.

Scott Mickoskisaidhe's known Nemethsince he was a toddler. He and some of the players from Nemeth's hockey teamjoined the search for him Monday afternoon.

"It's kind of stressful. Obviously you want him to walk in the door and say he's fine. You hope for the best but you think of the worst," he said.

"Just hoping he can pull through wherever he is and come home to us just want tosee him again."

Nemeth is described as six feettall and170 pounds with anaverage build, short brown hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing a black jacket with a River East Marauders hockey team logo on the front, black pantsand brown runners.

Police are concerned about Nemeth's well-being and askanyone with informationon his whereabouts to contact the missing persons unit at204-986-6250.