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Vigil held for missing teenager

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By Mary Louise Speer | Saturday, April 5, 2008 10:50 PM CDT | () comments

CLINTON, Iowa — Two months ago, Ben Roseland, 19, of Clinton, Iowa, vanished while on his way to the local Hy-Vee grocery store. The only trace of him found have been his shoes.

About 120 family, friends and supporters exchanged hugs and hope Saturday evening during a candlelight vigil at Clinton Park.

“We are here tonight to pray for the family and also for those who might be holding him to feel their pain, and let him come home,” said the Rev. Richard Okumu, pastor of the Church of Visitation, Camanche, Iowa. “We hope that God is going to help us find Ben — dead or alive — and bring him home.”

Tree limbs, most still winter bare, were silhouetted against a pale blue sky, a few showing bumpy promise of spring greenery to come. The service opened with a welcome from family friend Ann Capion and remarks from Clinton Mayor Rodger Holm.

Most people can’t fathom the limbo Ben’s father, Jim, mother, Theresa, and siblings are living now, the mayor said. Roseland slipped out for a quick walk to the grocery store Feb. 9 while at a friend’s house in the 400 block of 10th Avenue South, Clinton.

Many prayers were said for his safe return, or to at least know what happened. “God does answer prayer,” said the Rev. Debby Manion of Clinton Community Christian Church.

Posters of Ben are displayed around the Clinton area with a photo of the brown-haired, 5-foot, 11-inches tall, 175-pound young man. But nearly two months have passed since he vanished with no activity on his bank account or calls from his cell phone.

“It’s very difficult when you’re hoping for something that’s been gone for a long time,” Okumu said.

Ben’s aunt Ann Reyes of Moline showed her support.

“We just don’t know what to do.” Reyes said. “My biggest hope now is that we know something about him, that he comes home. But we just want some sort of closure.”

To help

The family of Ben Roseland, 19, of Clinton, Iowa, has set up a Web site at benroseland.com.

Anyone with any information about his disappearance is asked to call the Clinton Police Department at (563) 243-1458, attention Captain Gertsen or send an email to nfo@benroseland.com.

The city desk can be contacted at (563) 383-2450 or newsroom@qctimes.com.