Boy, 14, found mysteriously strangled by seatbelt in family's van
His family his desperate for answers but cops say there is no evidence to suggest foul play
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The parents of a 14-year-old boy who died days after he was found strangled by a seatbelt in his family’s vehicle at an Oshawa mall last week are desperate for answers.
Durham Regional Police say investigators have reviewed, and continue to review, surveillance video from the Oshawa Centre — located southeast of King St. W. and Stevenson Rd. S. — and from vehicles that were in the mall parking lot last Friday afternoon.
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Foul play is not suspected.
“At this time in the investigation, there is no evidence to suggest criminality,” Sgt Joanne Bortoluss said Wednesday, adding police are awaiting the results of an autopsy.
A message posted on GoFundMe by Haseeb Mareer — one of the boy’s parents — explains the tragedy unfolded between 4 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. on Aug. 16.
Subhan Mareer asked to stay behind in the family’s minivan, a blue Honda Odyssey that was parked near the Tim Hortons, while his parents went shopping inside the mall.
The parents returned to find their son with a seatbelt wrapped around his neck.
“Our son hated shopping, like most boys his age, and chose to wait in the car while we completed our errands with our younger children,” Haseeb said on GoFundMe. “We have no idea what happened and are in shock — desperate for answers.”
An update posted by a family friend on GoFundMe, which was set up to help the Mareer family with expenses, explains that Subhan’s body showed signs of oxygen deprivation.
“The father called for help, and thankfully, a passerby was able to cut the seatbelt,” the family friend said.
Emergency responders rushed Subhan to a hospital in Oshawa and he was then transferred to Sick Kids in Toronto. The boy remained in a coma and died several days later.
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Subhan had been a student at Jack Miner Public School in Whitby and “excited” to start high school in the fall, Haseeb said on GoFundMe.
“He was a bright and happy child according to everyone who knew him — friends, family, strangers.”
“If anyone was in that location, parked beside the car, walking past it in the lot – please reach out and share anything you might know, no matter how trivial it may seem,” Haseeb pleaded. “In particular, there was a Tesla parked right in front of our car that may have had a clear view of the inside of the van.”
Police are urging anyone who was at the Oshawa Centre between 3:45 P.m. and 5:45 p.m. on Aug. 16 and has video or information to call investigators at 905-579-1520, ext. 2739.
“Our thoughts remain with his family, who we will continue to stay in contact with, offering them support during this difficult time,” Bortoluss said.
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