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Microsoft offers reward for missing boy
Filed under: Teens, In The News, Toys, Gadgets
Steve Crisp probably thought he was doing the right thing by exercising a little tough love on his Xbox-addicted son. Since 13-year-old Brandon had begun playing "Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare" online, his father had noticed some changes in him - like skipping school, stealing money and letting his schoolwork slide. So, on October 13, dad decided that enough was enough and took the boy's Xbox console away. Brandon did not take it well and hopped on his bike and left his Barrie, Ontario home. He hasn't been heard from since.
Since then, an exhaustive search has failed to turn up any clues other than Brandon's abandoned bicycle, discovered last week with a flat tire. Even a US $19,500 reward offered together by a local newspaper, the family's Internet service provider and Child Find has yet to lead to any good information regarding Brandon's whereabouts.
The police are examining just who Brandon was playing with online and has contacted the game's manufacturer, Microsoft, to help uncover that information. Microsoft is not only cooperating in the investigation, but has doubled the cash reward by putting in their own US $19,500. "Like everyone, we are deeply worried about the disappearance of Brandon Crisp," a company spokesperson said.
Steve Crisp says he had no idea that losing his Xbox would be so traumatic for his son. "This had become his identity, and I didn't realize how in-depth this was until I took his Xbox away. That's like cutting his legs off. This is such an issue that hits every parent out there, with video games that are starting to control our kids' lives," he said.
I really feel for this family. Brandon wasn't doing anything different from what thousands of other kids his age do each and every day. And yet he has been missing for over two weeks because he was forced to stop doing it.
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ReaderComments (Page 5 of 5)
11-02-2008 @ 1:24AM
Bill said...Great for Microsoft, great co.
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11-02-2008 @ 1:20AM
karen said...I hate this X-box live game. I do not have a problem with most games but this one is so addictive that the people playing it lose touch with reality. My husband and i are about to split because of it and my friends are having problems with their famlies because of it too. I am betting that this child is with one of the people that he plays with. Check his gamer tag and see if he has been on anywhere. He could be anywhere these people that are addicted to this game seem to forget everything around them and act like their clans are their families. I hope that he is found! I also hope that everyone out there on the game keeps an ear out for him.
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11-02-2008 @ 1:29AM
Tee said...This kid didn't run away because his game was taken away from him. He did it to try to prove his independence and rule over his parents. Hopefully, the child has not met with foul play, but my guess is he's couch surfing with a couple of his friends and will be home when he realizes how difficult being a "man" really is. I'm a guidance counselor for troubled teens and this is the view they have expressed about this boy. We all pray for his safe return, but agree that his parents should continue with the guidelines they have set for him when he comes home. In the meantime, we sympathize with his family and pray for as much peace at heart they can have during this trying time.
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11-02-2008 @ 1:30AM
addy said...IM A KID i play video games and balance my life i think it is the parents falt THEY SHOULD NOT LET theb kid play M rated games i mean theat means 18 or older if they would have kept the games for his age limet THEN he would not have be adicted or at least may it where school come first an games on the weekend
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11-02-2008 @ 1:52AM
GreatR said...What moron wrote this article?
Sounds like the "author" thinks that
the Dad did something wrong because "the kid was just doing what thousands of other kids to everyday and got his X-Box taken away." Then he ran away. Let's see, stopped going to school, stealing money, etc. If thousands of children are losing control of their lives because of this "game" then I think the manufacturer should be held criminally liable. And parents should destroy the X-box.
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11-02-2008 @ 2:04AM
tep said...BRANDON....PLEASE GO HOME....YOU CAN NOW SEE THAT THEY REALLY CARE FOR AND LOVE YOU, RIGHT, HON?
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11-02-2008 @ 2:10AM
TEP said...SMATTU...YOU ARE SURE ONE BIG ASS.
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11-02-2008 @ 2:46AM
janelle said...Did you say "eat a dick" who are you, Janelle from Big Brother 6 and All Stars? I believe that statement is copyrighted dumbass. Oh and by the way, do you even hope this kid is still alive?
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11-02-2008 @ 3:53AM
Beverly said...I think that these violent video games out there have enslaved our children and parents should not let them in the house. Period. If people don't buy these things, they will stop making them. Simple law of supply and demand. I think parents should be making a lot more effort to monitor what their children see on their computers and get the parental blocks that are available. That said, I want to say how sorry I feel for the father and for his mother and the rest of the family. To have a child missing is a horrible thing to live through. I hope the boy will be found soon, unharmed.
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11-02-2008 @ 4:01AM
sean861221 said...maybe it wasnt even about the x box. maybe he was doing drugs. stealing money, skipping school, and dropping grades is what happened to me when i was little and started smoking weed. think outside the box
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11-02-2008 @ 2:10PM
MotherHubbard said...I feel for this dad. FORGIVE THE FOLLOWING PERSONAL : In our state when our just turned 15 year old "ran away" to an older sibs house 40 miles away because she had been caught on the phone for the 50th plus time...at midnight to boyfriend and was grounded from phone for a weekend, it was like taking her "game" from her. When we tried to bring her home cops said there was no law to run away for over 14 year olds. we were told to let her live with sib. The social worker brokered a deal whereby she would/could stay there with no financing from us except keep the child covered with our health insurance coverage. we had to sign over a caregiver's agreement for medical emergency.Now some years later, the older sib is sueing us for back child support, almost 20K. I feel like our child was kidnapped from us, withheld from having contact with us, and now....we're being sued for ransom. the ones getting rich are the lawyers. COME ON...TOUGH LOVE HURTS, BUT THE PARENTS HAVE TO BE ABLE TO CONTROL THE SOCIAL LIFE AND DISCIPLINE AND ORDERLINESS OF THEIR CHILDREN. Microsoft would do well to sponsor legislation for more parental controls...after this child is returned.
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11-02-2008 @ 4:23AM
Elizabeth said...Is the kid 13 years old like the story says? Or, is he 15 years like the poster above it says? Hope he is found soon alive and healthy. My prayors are with the family.
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11-02-2008 @ 7:09AM
Carol said...Brandon, PLEASE go home. Your father was trying to do the right thing for you and I know the two of you can sit down and talk. You are not going to be in more trouble. I'm sure your father just wants you to come home. PLEASE go home Brandon. You are very loved!!!
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11-02-2008 @ 5:12AM
Jami said...WTH? Someone's off his/her meds...
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11-02-2008 @ 5:25AM
joba said...I hope this kid does get home safe, and it sucks for the parents. But as soon as he is inside with closed doors, whoop his a s s to make sure the dumb crap does do anything stupid like running away for a damn game. But like i said, i hope he is found
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11-02-2008 @ 5:35AM
rum said...If I was that parent, Brandon's litttle butt would never see the Xbox ever again.
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11-02-2008 @ 6:32AM
kittylou norris said...the games are fun an as everything in life you need control 13 there has to be rules to achive control in ones life the ones who play so well have a high IQ so will learn to do great things in life because the apple doesnt fall far from the tree kids today are bored so chores help them just do something an not be a prisoner of a game an can later work well with others i have 11 kids an 2 were game freaks but didnt do drugs or steal an now can work no matter if its one or 2 jobs they can pay there bills i pray you get your son back soon an can find a half way mark to the control i did put in a on an off switch so wrong time no game 2 1/2 hours a day is plenty bless all of you
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11-04-2008 @ 3:26AM
Vivian said..." I really feel for this family. Brandon wasn't doing anything different from what thousands of other kids his age do each and every day. And yet he has been missing for over two weeks because he was forced to stop doing it."
Well, there are thousands of kids his age doing a lot of things, but that doesn't mean the kids are right. We should not be quick to judge the parents on this. The parents might have tried taking it away for a day or so before, and then this was the final straw. When a child gets into stealing and skipping school, it calls for some stronger action; and we all know that when kids get to a certain size and age, they're too big to spank or make them do chores, so the only discipline left is to deny a privilege
My heart goes out to the family and my prayers go up for the safe return of their son.
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11-05-2008 @ 3:31PM
Cynthia said..."Wednesday, November 05, 2008
After more than three weeks of an exhaustive search, police have recovered a body that matches the description of missing Ontario teen Brandon Crisp in a wooded area near Barrie, Ont."
http://www.canada.com/story.html?id=292788a1-24ab-4b74-8af8-501ee3f87437
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