Father of Josh Guimond says university has withheld information
(Herald Journal) MAPLE LAKE, MN — As the seventh year anniversary approaches for the disappearance of missing college student Joshua Guimond Nov. 10, his family is preparing for a “Justice for Josh,” march to keep his memory alive.
In addition to the march, the family has few kinds words to say about the university. According to Joshua’s father, Brian Guimond, “One of several new facts regarding Joshua’s disappearance that we need to explore involves 11 known sex offenders who resided on campus when Joshua disappeared. If that is the case, we may never know the truth. The University and Abbey have a long history of withholding information from the public and law enforcement authorities.” The public needs to be aware of this.
Guimond disappeared after leaving a small card party as a student at St. John’s University in Collegeville in 2002.
On the night of his disappearance, Josh, who was 20 at the time he went missing, left a small card party at a friend’s apartment on the St. John’s University campus around midnight on Nov. 9, 2002. His friends believed he was just making a trip to the bathroom, but when he did not come back after 15 minutes, they assumed he had just walked back to his dorm room. He has not been seen since.
Joshua did not have his glasses or contact lenses, his car, credit cards, or even a coat that was appropriate for the weather. Nothing was missing from his dorm room. His parents remain convinced that he was taken against his will.
· St. John’s recently denied a request by the Guimond family to mark the anniversary with an on-campus walk to raise awareness, claiming such an event “would not be productive”.
· The seven year anniversary of Joshua’s disappearance is November 10th.
· Supporters will meet near St. John’s University at noon, followed by a march at the Stearns County Sheriff’s office at 2pm.
· Several facts and new information regarding Joshua’s disappearance will be made public during the event.
Justice for Josh March set for Nov. 7
Joshua Guimond’s family along with supporters, advocates and other victims of campus crime are flying in from around the country and uniting to remember Joshua. A petition will be presented to the sheriff demanding accountability.
St. John’s University recently denied a request by the family to begin the Justice for Josh march on campus, at the site where Joshua was last seen. According to University representative Shawn Vierzba, such a march, “would not be productive, and that the speculation and conjecture likely generated by such a march could in the end be more harmful to the efforts to find Josh.”
The march will continue at the Stearns County Sheriffs office, where organizers will demand that law enforcement agencies release all information regarding Joshua’s disappearance and that St. John’s immediately release the names of all personnel who have had credible assault allegations made against them. A dinner and prayer service will follow. Copies of the full schedule and applicable documents will be made available online and on the day of the march.
More information: http://www.findjoshua.com
Father of Josh Guimond says university has withheld information
November 3, 2009 by Lynda Jensen, Editor