Marlyse Williams says she's receiving messages of support from the greater Tri-Cities community after sharing an unusual visit to her son Logan's memory bench.
The late young promising actor's mother says someone stole all of the memorial items that were placed by the Pitt River Trail bench when it was commemorated.
Williams explains among items were several pictures of her son, who died at age 16 of an accidental overdose back in 2020.
As well, the lamp that acted as a base for the main memorial piece, solar-powered lights, several flowers — in small vases and a bigger basket — and all the rocks around the bench hand-painted by supporters.
The only thing left was the flower arrangement tied to the back of the bench that spells 'Logan.'
"Who does that? I wonder what kind of person goes to a dead kid’s memory bench and steals everything?", asks Williams in a post on social media. The theft took place some time after the July long weekend.
She then told the Tri-City News she was actually out of the country when she was first made aware of the incident, guest-speaking at a drug-awareness fundraising dinner in Florida.
"Everything is gone… a planter that I just placed two weeks ago, filled with succulents … gone. It was very very heavy and took two people to carry it to the bench."
After returning to the Tri-Cities and seeing with her own eyes, Williams says she called the City of Port Coquitlam thinking staff had removed them.
However, the city confirmed they did not remove the memorial items and noted they've only ever heard compliments about Logan's bench from residents and visitors, which is located along the edge of the Pitt River.
"So strange. I was so impressed with the City of Port Coquitlam as they were very sympathetic and also assured me the city would never ever do this," Williams explains.
"Apparently, this is not unusual for things to go missing from memorial sites."
And sadly, that appears to be true.
In responses to Williams' original post, some people shared similar experiences of their own.
"Unfortunately this has happened at my sisters memorial site as well," one commenter says.
"They removed Christmas ornaments, flower pots and even figurines. Such a terrible thing to do and an even worse feeling for the family remembering our loved ones."
"My nephew who died at six months has had his grave site at the cemetery vandalized before," said another.
Still, Williams is hopeful the person(s) responsible can safely return the items to Logan's bench sooner than later.
"That bench provides so much peace and healing for my family and friends. It’s very disappointing and sad to say the least."
Williams encourages anyone who knows where her son's memorial items are to contact her via Facebook, or call the City of Port Coquitlam at 604-527-5411.
The bench is located less than 10 minutes by foot heading north from the Prairie Avenue entrance to the Pitt River Trail.
Logan appeared in several shows in his career, including two seasons as young Barry Allen in CW's The Flash, When Calls the Heart, The Whispers, and Supernatural.
He grew up in Coquitlam and attended Terry Fox Secondary in Port Coquitlam. He would've turned 19 back on April 9.
