Family Says Maple Grove Man’s Lengthy Disappearance ‘Very Unusual’
A Maple Grove family is searching for their teenage son who went missing more than a week ago.
Winston Drepaul, 18, left his home at Bottineau Ridge Apartments in Maple Grove on Saturday, March 23, without his cell phone, wallet or medicine.
His mother, Howa Kamara, says Drepaul, nicknamed “DeeDee” or “Dez,” recently started having mental health issues.
“About a month ago he got sick, he was having some mental health issues, and we tried and got him help,” Kamara said. “He was hospitalized, and he hasn’t been able to take his medication since he’s disappeared.”
She says he’s very close with his family, and it’s unlike him to leave without contacting anyone.
“He always comes home, so it’s very unusual that he would be gone for this long,” Kamara said.
On March 26, the Maple Grove Police Department sent out a press release asking for help in the search for Drepaul.
Meanwhile, his family has coordinated their own searches.
Winston Drepaul, 18, left his home at Bottineau Ridge Apartments in Maple Grove on Saturday, March 23 without his cell phone, wallet or medicine.
During a recent neighborhood sweep, volunteers located Drepaul’s jacket on the edge of a pond at 80th Avenue and Lakeview Drive.
The Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office deputies in wetsuits and boats conducted a search of the pond but found nothing.
“The water conditions and poor visibility made the search challenging,” Maple Grove police officials noted in the press release.
However, investigators believe they spotted Drepaul on the day he disappeared on security camera footage at the Maple Grove Community Center.
The footage appears to show him carrying a duffel bag. Police have not recovered the bag and are asking residents to report any abandoned bags near the community center.
They are also asking businesses and residents in the area to check their security footage for any related activity between March 23-29.
Police say they do not expect foul play in the matter.
Kamara offered a tearful plea to the larger Twin Cities community to help bring her son home.
“If anyone has him, if anyone knows his whereabouts, please, let us know so we can come get him — no one is in trouble,” Kamara said. “If you can hear me, if you can see mommy, please come home. Please come home DeeDee. Mommy needs you so much.”
