<h2><b>Beaufort teen’s body was found Nov. 1; Remembrance planned for Dec. 20</b></h2>
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</b>It’s been more than a month since the body of Beaufort teenager Marcus Graves was found at the Grays Hill Boat Landing, and answers seem just as elusive as they did that day.

As a result, the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office and Graves’ mother, Shantay Odom, are asking for help from the public.

“Every time I think about how scared my son might have been, it makes me cry,” Odom told WSAV-TV, adding, “I don’t care if you didn’t like my son or whatever. He didn’t deserve what happened to him. And if you know something come forward.”

For the immediate future, in an effort to make something positive out of tragedy, Graves’ family is hosting a remembrance for the 16-year-old at 5 p.m. Dec. 20 at the same landing where his body was found.

Graves’ family invites the community to come out and keep his name in the light at the event, “Light Up.”

According to event fliers, in memory of Marcus, his family will be collecting donations for Christmas to help support Hopeful Horizons, a children’s advocacy, domestic violence and rape crisis center.

The family is asking for donations of new, unwrapped toys for both girls and boys, infant and toddler items, baby blankets, snacks, juices, etc. Donations can be dropped of at 12 Thoroughbred Circle, Beaufort, S.C. 29906. There will also be a drop box for donations at the vigil.

“Justice for Marcus” T-shirts will be available for purchase.

Graves was found at Grays Hill Landing, at 8:50 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 1, according to the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Department. He had last been seen around 10 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 31, and had been reported by his family as a runaway.

The Battery Creek junior was pronounced dead by EMS personnel at the scene.

Despite a forensic autopsy, no clear cause and manner of death were determined.

Anyone with information is encouraged to call Sergeant Ryan Garst at 843-255-3426 or Crimestoppers of the Lowcountry at 843-554-1111.

For more information on the remembrance, please contact Shantay Odom at 843-263-0104.
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