UPDATE Nov. 29: The family of Joseph Maku, 18, learned on Friday, Nov. 29 that he had been found deceased more than five weeks after he was first reported missing. In a social media post in the Missing Person: Joseph Maku Facebook group on Friday evening, his older sister, Brenda Maku, said the family learned today that Joseph has been found deceased in Delta.
Original story:
The family of a missing Surrey teen is planning a search party Saturday (Nov. 9) starting in Holland Park.
Joseph Maku was last seen in the 13000-block of 96th Avenue on Tuesday, Oct. 22. He is described as Black, six-foot-five and 200 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes. Surrey RCMP says he is believed to be wearing a black hoodie, black North Delta Huskies basketball shorts, and black and white basketball shoes.
His sister Brenda, in a previous interview with Black Press Media, described him as spontaneous, adventurous and clever.
The 18-year-old is a student at the University of British Columbia in his first year studying kinesiology. On Oct. 22 before Brenda left for school, Joseph was studying and it was likely he was going to remain home the entire day, she said.
So when Brenda returned that evening and found her younger brother was not home, something was off to her. Joseph always told the family where he was going before he left the home, but this time, he told his siblings only that he would be back soon.
That was nearly three weeks ago, and Joseph has yet to return.
On Saturday (Nov. 9), organizers are asking people to meet at 11 a.m. in Holland Park (13428 Old Yale Rd), near T&T Supermarket. "From there everyone will be divided into groups, and will have a designated area to put posters up, chat with people in the area, and potentially find clues regarding Joseph," reads a post in the Missing Person: Joseph Maku Facebook group.
As rainy weather is expected on Saturday, organizers ask that people dress warmly and bring an umbrella and "please don’t let the rain prevent you from showing up!"
Brenda also created a Google map to "keep track" of where people put up posters, where possible Joseph sightings have been and what areas have already been searched.
For more information, visit the Missing Person: Joseph Maku Facebook group.
-With files from Sobia Moman
