Lighting Their Way Home

Mark Degner and his friend, Bryan Hayes, went missing on February 10, 2005 after leaving the Paxon Middle school where they were students in Jacksonville, Florida. It was reported to police that the two had plans to runaway. The mother of another student at the school notified a local news network, that notified the police department. The two boys were classified as missing and considered in danger, as the details were not clear if they had runaway or had been lead away. The boys were also considered “in danger” as they both required medication. Mark and Bryan are both developmentally delayed with the emotional development of an 8 to 10 year old child at the time of their disappearance. Both boys suffer from bipolar disorder and require medication. Mark also requires daily medication for kidney problems and high blood pressure. Neither of the boys had any of their medication on them at the time of their disappearance. The boys were 12 and 13 when they were reported missing, and now would be nearly 16 and 17. It was thought the boys were headed to Port Orange (a town in Central Florida), where Bryan’s grandmother lived. However, after countless sightings the boys had not been seen. Around 90 sex offenders in the local area had been questioned by law enforcement, but no suspects have been named. The mother of one boy believes that someone must be helping them. She claims that neither boy would have been old enough or mature enough to know how to survive alone for this long. She can only hope that this person(s) whomever they may be is taking good care of the boys, and not causing them harm. The boys were featured on America’s Most Wanted, and the Montel Williams show. I personally met with the grandmother, grandfather, and mother of the boys, at the grandmothers home in Port Orange (myself and a friend were contacted to do a piece for the Montel Show). We sat and looked at photo albums, and pictures of the boys. As they remembered the day they learned the boys were missing, you could feel the pain they each felt. We walked down the street, where the families had put up missing posters on just about every pole or tree they could find. Neighbors, were only too happy to assist the family in their effort. Preston Degner, Mark’s father, spent 20 hours a day searching for the boys in the first weeks when the boys went missing but was unable to find any answers. Rewards, in the case have grown from $1000 to $5000 for information on the two. There has also been a $10,000 reward issued by the Justice Coalition for anyone that has information concerning the disappearance of Mark and Bryan. It’s now been over three years sense the boys had been reported as missing. Tips although slow, are still coming into the tip line in regards to the missing teens. Mark and Bryan were last seen in Holly Hills, Florida in April 2005. This sighting was confirmed by the police, but a search of Holly Hills after the sighting turned up no sign of either of the boys. However, to this day neither boy has been seen or heard from since. Please take a look at a flier that has been created and passed around from the group project Jason for Mark and Bryan.

http://projectjason.org/18wheel/18WheelAngel_DegnerHayes.pdf

Also, please check out the project Jason website, as there is a lot of great information and access to many resources.

Mark Degner was born on July 13, 1992. He has brown hair and hazel eyes. Bryan Hayes was born on December 12, 1991. He has red hair and blue eyes. Bryan also has a scar on the left side of his torso.

If you have any information regarding the disappearance of Mark Degner and Bryan Hayes, please immediately contact:

Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office

1-904-630-0500.

These age enhanced photos show what Mark and Bryan may look like at the age of 17.

UPDATE:  As of November 7, 2009, there have been no new leads regarding this case.  Please continue to be on the alert for any information regarding the disappearance of Mark and Bryan.

Written By: Ann Boyce

September 28^th, 2008