Tragic Loss Draws Outpouring of Support from Sanford Community
- July 12th 2024
- News
By Zendelle Bouchard
Sanford and Springvale residents are coming together to support a family facing unimaginable loss following the apparent drowning of teenage stepbrothers Tavayne Weir and D’Andre Graham.
The boys’ bodies were recovered from the Mousam River at Holdsworth Park (Springvale Rec) by first responders in the early hours of July 8.
Ashley Brochu has organized a GoFundMe to raise the money necessary to bring the boys back to their native Jamaica for burial. More than $19,000 of the $30,000 goal has been raised from 360 donors as of Thursday morning.
A separate GoFundMe organized by Jessica Morgan has raised more than $3,000 from 20 donors so far.
17-year-old Tavayne was a member of the Sanford High School Class of 2025. According to Brochu, he and D’Andre, 16, grew up together sharing a close bond. They became real family when their parents, Kerryann and Morris Graham, got married last year. Tavayne had recently earned his driver’s license and he and D’Andre were scheduled to begin work as Door Dashers on Monday.
On Sunday, July 7 around 11 pm, the Sanford Police Department received a call reporting that the two boys had not returned home for their curfew. It was reported that they had gone to Springvale’s Holdsworth Park recreation area to swim. Sanford Police along with Sanford Fire & EMS responded to the park and found the teens’ vehicle. A search of the park and the waterway located the bodies of the two boys in the water at about 12:30 am. The investigation by SPD and the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME) is ongoing, but foul play is not suspected at this time.
The School Department made counseling and bereavement support services available to all students and staff on Tuesday, July 9 at Sanford High School.
