Finding Teen's Killer
On the fifth anniversary of the death of 16-year-old Matthew Dreaver, who was run over by a vehicle in the city’s east end, his family is appealing to the public to help find his killer.
“Matthew was a fun-loving, selfless, thoughtful and energetic boy,” said his mother, Kelly Jones, at a news conference at Toronto Police headquarters on October 25. “He was my son, a brother, a grandson and a nephew.”
Choking back tears, she said his death had destroyed the family.
“How could this happen to my child?” asked a sobbing Jones. “….Since his death, I have been using my voice to speak for him. He had life ahead of him before he was robbed of that. If you know someone who has information in finding his murderer and will bring us closure, please speak out.”
Brooklyn McMullen, a friend of Dreaver, also spoke at the conference.
“If he were alive, Matthew would be in college right now,” she tearfully said. “I think he would be living a great life and he would be a strong independent and Indigenous man. I think he would be living life and loving life.”
On October 24, 2019, Dreaver and a 14-year-old friend had an interaction with two men in a black, four-door SUV near Woodbine Ave. and O’Connor Dr. that led to the two men getting back into the SUV and chasing the boys who fled on foot.
The men searched the area for some time before finding the two boys near Stan Wadlow Park in the Cedarvale Ave. and Cosburn Ave. area.
The passenger exited the vehicle while the driver remained and chased the boys in the SUV.
He mounted the curb, drove over the sidewalk and onto the grassy area and then struck the teenager (Watch security camera video). He then drove to pick up the passenger who had been previously in the vehicle and fled the area.
“An extensive and exhaustive investigation was undertaken by TPS officers,” said Detective Sergeant Brandon Price. “We have not been able to identify the suspect to this point.”
In addition to seeking the public’s help, Price is appealing directly to the male passenger, who he considers a witness in the case, and not responsible for the driver’s actions.
“I believe that you were not in the vehicle at the time the driver ran over and killed Matthew Dreaver,” he said. “I also believe that you did not know the driver was going to run over Matthew. I am looking to speaking with you as a witness to this event. I need you to come forward to speak to us so that we can solve this case, find justice for Matthew, and have some closure for his mother and the family.”
The suspect is described as white male, 20-35 years of age, 5’10” with short to balding hair.
Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-7400, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477) or at www.222tips.com.
