By: Devin Fry
DUNSEITH, N.D. (Valley News Live) – The family of 12-year-old Abrium Swain confirmed Thursday that a body found last week in Dunseith is that of the boy who had been missing since March 15.
The cause of death appears to be exposure.
Abrium went missing from a child welfare center on the Turtle Mountain Reservation, and was reported missing on March 15. The family organized searches and made repeated public pleas for help during the weeks he was missing.
Legal counsel for the Turtle Mountain Tribe told KFYR TV Abrium had been staying at the center but had run away. The boy’s mother died several years ago, and his father is incarcerated.
Foul play is not suspected, but the boy’s death remains under investigation by the FBI.
A candlelight vigil will be held Friday evening for Abrium.
It will take place Friday, May 15 from 7:30 to 8 p.m. at the Tribal Child Welfare Office in Belcourt. The event was previously postponed.
The family shared the following statement:
“As a community, we are in hurt of losing a loved one. We mourn the loss of a child, a sweet, innocent, baby boy whose name is ABRIUM SWAIN!!! The one who had so much to look forward to, who had a bright future ahead of him still.”
A GoFundMe has been set up for the family here.
