MOTHER PLEADS FOR SAFE RETURN OF MISSING SON

Drug Dealer Link Probed By Police

The mother of a missing Mississauga man sobbed in front of reporters Monday
while making a desperate plea for her son's safe return. "Robert, if you
can hear me, please come home...I love you," were the only words Jatinder
Grewal could muster before bursting into tears. She told reporters at Peel
Regional Police headquarters she fears the worst has happened to her
22-year-old son, Robert Grewal, who has been missing since Nov. 12 along
with his close friend, 20-year-old Joseph Manchisi of Milton.

"It's been a long month already and Christmas is coming...I want to see you
back home," said the heart-broken mother, adding that she's trying to stay
optimistic.

The woman said her son left their Meadowvale home with Manchisi around
10:30 a.m. on the fateful day.

He told his mother he and Manchisi were going to grab a coffee at a nearby
Tim Hortons and to expect them back in 10 minutes.

"When he didn't come home that night, I started to worry about him. The
next morning, we called the police," she said. "He said he'd be back in 10
minutes. Now it's been more than a month."

The two were last seen travelling in Manchisi's Blue Honda Civic. The
licence plate number is APTL 644.

Peel Regional Police homicide investigators have been monitoring the search
for the two men due to the "suspicious and unusual circumstances" regarding
their disappearance.

Const. Wendy Sims said not maintaining daily contact with family members is
"out of character" for both Grewal and Manchisi.

In early December, police revealed their disappearance could be linked to
involvement with drug dealers. It was information that shocked the family
members of both men.

"I have no idea of any involvement with drugs," said Manchisi's father,
Joseph Sr. "If there is anything bad, it's in a background that I don't
know about. If there is foul play, we'll have to deal with that accordingly."

Grewal's uncle, Harpal Singh Grewal, was also surprised to learn his nephew
might be associated with drug dealers.

But, Grewal's uncle said, nothing can be ruled out.

"They could be hiding from something, I don't know what, or they could be
somewhere having good fun," he said. "There's all kinds of possibilities
with two boys of that age, but we are very concerned for their safety...
this is the time of year when parents like to see their kids at home."

Police have told family members investigators believe both men were
associated with bad crowds, Harpal said.

Grewal, a Meadowvale Secondary School graduate, was to begin taking
business courses at Humber College next month to prepare him for opening up
a grocery store or video store, his mother said.

While a joint-forces team of Peel and Halton Regional Police officers
continue to search tirelessly for the men, they admit hope dwindles with
each passing day.

Hundreds of interviews have been conducted with friends and associates,
investigators said.

Anyone with information is asked to call Peel police 11 Division at
905-453-2121, ext. 1100.