The family of a Winnipeg man fears he was held captive and tortured before being dropped off at a Regina hospital where he remains in critical care.

Dustin LaFortune, 26, moved to Calgary about two years ago. At the end of February, he went missing. In April, his family members got a call that said he'd been located at a hospital.

"It's very difficult for a mom to know your (son) is laying there and he's almost dead," said Renee LaFortune, Dustin's mother.

Marcel LaFortune, Dustin's cousin, believes Dustin was held against his will and tortured.

"The only way I was able to recognize him was through his eye colour," said Marcel.

Dustin, who formerly weighed about 245 pounds, was reduced to about 87 pounds and suffered burn and stab wounds all over his body. He also sustained brain damage.

"I couldn't fathom how another individual could do this to another human being. It was inhumane," said Marcel.

The case could have possible connections to three provinces but currently Regina police have taken the lead and are investigating it as an aggravated assault.

Dustin's relatives said he was physically able to speak with officers for the first time on Friday.

Dustin's family members also believe he knew his attacker but don't understand why he was targeted.

Renee said, however, that her son was vulnerable.

"(Dustin's) naïve, maybe, and a little bit gullible and trusting to a fault," said Renee.

Her son faces years of recovery and Dustin's family worries his chance of ever becoming the man he was previously is unlikely.

Dustin's relatives are also issuing a plea for anyone with information to come forward about the incident. They want whoever is responsible brought to justice.

Police do not currently have anyone in custody and are continuing to investigate.

Anyone with information is asked to contact their local RCMP, Crime Stoppers or Regina police.

Contact information for Regina police is available on their website.

 - with a report from CTV's Stacey Ashley

- warning - images contained in the video version of this story may be disturbing to some viewers