January 2008 — Brandon Crisp’s friend Nick introduces him and other friends to Xbox Live. The boys form a “clan” and play several times together. The game of choice is Call of Duty 4. Eventually, Brandon is playing more often and is online for longer periods of time.
April 27, 2008 — Brandon joins the Gamebattles site, a division of Major League Gaming (MLG) where players can compete on gaming ladders against other gamers around the world. Game ladders offered on the site range from Call of Duty 4 to Halo 3. Brandon’s favorite game was Call of Duty 4.
Spring 2008
Brandon begins forming clans with other players across the US and competing in online in matches and tournaments.
Summer 2008 — In the summer, when Brandon’s friends are busy with summer jobs, according to good friend Nick, Brandon was at home playing on his Xbox, six-to-eight hours at a time.
Brandon starts playing with a friend he met online, an 11-year-old in New Jersey. The names of their clans are "A fundamental System" and "Eye of the Storm." His online friend says that Brandon became “obsessed” with Call of Duty 4. They compete over the summer in a competitive team ladder for Call of Duty 4 and do well, but eventually Brandon begins trash-talking his friend when they start to lose matches.
July 11, 2008 — At 10:45 p.m., Brandon plays a two-player vs. two-player (2vs2) match against a clan called "Umbrella Corp for Gibbypoo." Brandon’s team loses both rounds in this game.
July 17, 2008 — At 11:30 p.m., Brandon plays in a 3vs3 game and Brandon’s team loses that match.
September 15, 2008 — Brandon plays in a clan called "Unstoppable M16z." He and his teammates win both matches in this 4vs4 match. Brandon continues to move up the ladder on the Major League Gaming GameBattles Call of Duty 4 Ladder.
October 2008 — Brandon’s online friend, 17-year-old Nikkibagel from Massachusetts, rates Brandon as an 8 out of 10 player, that he played from the time he got home from school until 11 or 12 at night. Nikkibagel says that he and Brandon were trying to go pro by starting a clan and getting more people in it so they could go to MLG.
October 9, 2008 — Brandon skips his afternoon classes.
October 10, 2008 — Brandon skips school again to sneak back into his house and play video games. According to Steve Crisp, Brandon had never done this before. Brandon and his father have a confrontation over this. Brandon’s Xbox is confiscated.
October 11, 2008 — While Steve Crisp is at work Brandon goes into his parents’ room and takes his Xbox back and starts playing online again with his friends.
October 12, 2008 — Steve Crisp realizes that Brandon has discovered the hiding place of the Xbox and is using it again.
The last person to speak with Brandon online is Michael Russell, aka "Mfrkacker," another clan member. He hears Brandon and Steve arguing.
October 13, 2008 — Steve and Brandon have a talk about Brandon’s gaming. At that time, Steve tells Brandon that he’s not getting the Xbox back.
Brandon tells his mom he is running away. She doesn’t take him seriously and tells Brandon to dress warmly. Brandon’s dad notices that he has a fishing knife and he tells him to leave the knife. He does and leaves. This is the last time they see Brandon.
Angelika Crisp calls around to Brandon’s friends in Oro to inquire about his whereabouts. His friends know nothing and have not heard from Brandon.
Later that day, a woman sees a young boy walking near Shanty Bay. She asks if he’s O.K. and he tells her he had problems with his bike and walks on. The boy is later identified as Brandon Crisp. Brandon doesn’t say where he’s going. The woman has no idea that she’ll be the last one to see him alive or that he is even missing.
Angelika contacts the Barrie police that night at 11:30 p.m. after Brandon fails to return home.
October 14, 2008 —The police suggest it’s possible Brandon ran away to stay with friends. Authorities go to St. Joseph’s High School where Brandon and his sisters attend school. Friends and classmates are questioned about Brandon’s whereabouts.
October 18-21, 2008 — A search for Brandon is conducted. Barrie Police and organized groups from the community search for Brandon.
October 19, 2008 — Police use helicopters to search the area. Flyers of Brandon are circulated throughout the community. (Link to picture of flyer)
October 20, 2008 — Brandon’s abandoned bike is found in the same area where the witness spotted him the day he went missing.
October 21, 2008 — Brandon's parents issue a plea to Toronto residents to check their cottages, believing their son could have made himself at home in one of the residences abandoned for the winter up north.
October 22, 2008 — Brandon's increasingly desperate dad, Steve Crisp, hires a dog tracker to aid in the search, as police go door-to-door looking for witnesses. The dogs don't find anything.
Police approach Microsoft for help, asking the computer giant to harvest the names the teen may have been playing his game with online, hoping they can provide clues.
October 23, 2008 — Brandon’s school holds a special vigil for the missing teen.
October 24, 2008 — Searchers locate a blue-checkered jacket, a tent, crackers and a full bag of chips in the area where the youngster was last seen. And while they can't definitively tie it to Brandon, they're hoping it's a sign he may have been there.
With growing concern, a $10,000 reward for information about Brandon is offered by the newspaper where his mother works.
October 27, 2008 — Microsoft continues to work on the I.D.s hidden in the Xbox and adds $25,000 to the reward effort as does Brandon’s Internet Service Provider. The total has reaches $50,000.
October 29, 2008 — Police suspend their ground search for Brandon because of bad weather. Volunteers continue to search the wooded area on their own.
October 30, 2008 — Barrie Police resume their search for Brandon. They also canvass people using the trails and the roads nearby, with hopes of a sighting. The case attracts the attention of America’s Most Wanted.
October 31, 2008 — Police locate a black sweater in a field where Brandon might have been. They investigate reports that he was seen at a local mall. None of their findings are related to Brandon.
November 4, 2008 — A second person comes forward to report seeing Brandon the day he disappeared. Deb Wood also saw the abandoned bike but didn't think much of it until later.
November 5, 2008 — Brandon’s body is discovered by hunters not far from where he disappeared. The cause of death was due to trauma to the chest, consistent with a fall from a tree.
November 14, 2008— Brandon Crisp’s funeral is attended by 1700 fellow students, family, friends, and community members.
