UK UK - Andrew Gosden, 14, Doncaster, South Yorks, 14 Sept 2007

[SJ16321]

I find the theory of he could have got cash in hand work to support himself just completely unbelievable. A nice thought but pure fantasy in reality.

He was 14 but in reality looked about 12 at best. Nobody is giving a full time cash in hand job to someone who looks that young.

 

[BethAnn777]

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RSBM

Oh, he looks so young in that video. His poor parents.

 

[emem1138]

When he was young yes. But I meant now in his 20's. I should have clarified.

 

[emem1138]

I also believe that a large piece of this puzzle lies in those weeks at the Gifted Summer Program.

 

[davidt]

I’ve always thought this is a very hard case as we know that he planned something for that day but don’t know if his final disappearance was part of that plan or something else happened that was unconnected with his original intentions. It's not the same as someone just disappearing without trace, in this case we know he was up to something to start with.

Has it ever been confirmed precisely how many times and which days he walked home from school instead of catching the bus? Two consecutive days or separate occasions and how close to the date he disappeared. The £100 he left behind in his room. Do we know how the £100 was constructed? If it was a big jar of loose change it would possibly make more sense why he didn’t take it. The fact he took £200 with him suggests he knew he needed money for something other than just a train ticket.

Given he had 100% attendance record at the school I struggle to see him thinking he could go somewhere and get back without his parents noticing. Surely the school at some stage would have notified them he had missed a day at school?
I think there’s every chance he was intending to visit family or friends in London but they didn’t know he was coming.

Not sure I buy the grooming angle. He seems to have had little internet access and however bad the police investigation was I'm pretty sure they would have found some online evidence at some stage. Obviously there could be someone close to him or a local person. We're told he didn't go out much and didn't socialise with school friends either. So not sure grooming is the answer.

People say that someone out there knows what happened. I’d take a bit of an issue with that as well. It’s just possible after getting to London he met with some sort of
accident and that actually no one knows what happened to him. Chances of solving it then would really be by pure chance.

As to whether or not he was happy at home or being bullied etc it's really hard to know. Parents are not necessarily the best judges of this. Gut feeling is that having walked home a couple of times, and having been grumpy on the morning of his disappearance that for whatever reason he'd had enough of school. Something was the last straw and he went and took his money out and upped and left. Whether or not it was spur of the moment or planned I've no idea.

I once had a friend who disappeared. This was in the mid 1980s. He was older than Andrew and in his early 20s at the time. He worked on a local farm, liked a pint or two and would go and watch football on a Saturday. If you asked his family or any of us who knew him we would all have said he led a simple contented life and seemed very happy. One day he popped in to the pub just before he was due to catch a bus to go on holiday to a resort for a few days. He was the same as usual but once he left the pub he wasn’t seen again. Missed the bus and never showed up at the resort and no trace of hm was was found. This was in the days before mass
CCTV or social media or the internet really. It made the local press but there wasn’t a single possible sighting or any leads at all. And that was it. For more than ten years that is. Then out of the blue his mother received a call from the local post office saying there was a letter to be collected. It was from her missing son explaining he was now living in London had a partner and had made a new life for himself. During all that time no one had heard from him and no one had ever reported a sighting. No one recalled giving him a lift or anything. I mention this for two reasons. Firstly given his original lifestyle he was probably the last person you could ever imagine living in a city. Secondly none of us know how someone else might really be feeling. To this day I have no idea if he did it on the spur of the moment or whether it was planned or why he did it.

 

[sundaaaay]

I ended up on Wikipedia recently reading about a musician who had committed suicide and it made me think whether AG was actually copying someone he admired who had committed suicide, and was using King’s cross as a connection to that same place. Maybe his body wasn’t found because nobody was looking for it there.

This case (out of all the others) I find so frustrating, we just know so little. I just wish I could go back in time and stop him leaving the station. Sounds ridiculous I know.

I go from being convinced he was groomed, to thinking he committed suicide.

 

[dotr]

Feb 28 2019 rbbm.
The stories behind the heartbreaking portraits of London's missing people

"It's hard to imagine the inner turmoil felt by families whose loved ones are missing.

Now a London exhibition will explore the painful topic with a series of heart-wrenching portraits."

"The Missing People charity has teamed up with The Other Art Fair and commissioned artists to create portraits of missing people from across the UK".
Blog
Andrew is included in this exhibition. As a family, we feel it is something he would appreciate as we spent plenty of time in galleries small and large as he was growing up. He would like something that made you think or stimulated you to look at something in a different way. Something that engendered an emotional response or just made you say “Wow”.

The portrait of Andrew achieves just this and so is particularly meaningful for us. It has been produced by artist Timothy Gatenby. His website, which helps to explain his thinking about his art, is here:

TIMOTHY GATENBY
"My own reaction to the portrait he has produced is that he has achieved a likeness of Andrew that is clearly “him”. But the portrait says much more than that to us. His use of monochromatic colours and the almost translucent effect gives an impression that reflects how long Andrew has been missing from our family. It is clearly his face, but the absence of realism powerfully reflects how that face has been distanced from us by the passage of time. Andrew is so clearly present in our thoughts and feelings, but after all this time any image we conjure up can only ever have this “make believe” quality."

 

[Jackalyn]

The other day my son described how he was walking along the street. He was not looking where he was going. He fell into an open grate. One of those grates that lead to a basement. I guess something like that could happen to Andrew? My son got out. He was hurt, but mobile. However, the area where he fell can be deserted. Oh, it would be so good to know what happened to Andrew.

 

[Jackalyn]

I find the theory of he could have got cash in hand work to support himself just completely unbelievable. A nice thought but pure fantasy in reality.

He was 14 but in reality looked about 12 at best. Nobody is giving a full time cash in hand job to someone who looks that young.

No. he would not get a job anywhere respectable. An unscrupulous person might give cash in hand for something.

 

[jaycool]

I dont think Andrew simply went walking into pubs/takeaways looking for a job in London, he'd have stuck out like a sore thumb.

But if he is still alive I think he met a person "known" to him, they offered him a place to stay plus some way of earning his keep, the idea attracted him.

For all we know he could have been having a relationship with an 18 year old and knew other people would frown upon finding out?

Otherwise.. we can only go back to the olde "he was abducted by someone and never let free".

 

[sundaaaay]

Does anyone on this thread think it was a suicide?

 

[CoverMeCagney]

Does anyone on this thread think it was a suicide?

I don't reckon it was. Surely London is the last place you'd go? Andrew would have been well aware there was more CCTV there than anywhere.

 

[Littlegreenlady]

Does anyone on this thread think it was a suicide?

It seems a long way to go and extreme lengths to go to, if he was planning to take his life. The only reason I can think of to not do it at home would be that he wouldn't want his parents to find his body. But there would be plenty of places he could have gone to that were local rather than taking out the money and going to London.

Plus, if it was suicide, given the fact the police knew he was in London and were searching for him, any dead bodies of that age would (At least I like to think so) have been looked at by the police.

If he was planning to kill himself in the station, the most likely way would be in front of a train, but generally people who consider this as an option tend to hover around on a platform waiting for some time. And Network Rail have been working with Samaritans for a number of years on behaviours of suicidal people and are trained to look out for the signs. Whilst this sadly doesn't always stop it happening, it would mean that his behaviour on the day at the station would have more likely to have been noticed.

 

[Jackalyn]

It seems a long way to go and extreme lengths to go to, if he was planning to take his life. The only reason I can think of to not do it at home would be that he wouldn't want his parents to find his body. But there would be plenty of places he could have gone to that were local rather than taking out the money and going to London.

Plus, if it was suicide, given the fact the police knew he was in London and were searching for him, any dead bodies of that age would (At least I like to think so) have been looked at by the police.

If he was planning to kill himself in the station, the most likely way w I aould be in front of a train, but generally people who consider this as an option tend to hover around on a platform waiting for some time. And Network Rail have been working with Samaritans for a number of years on behaviours of suicidal people and are trained to look out for the signs. Whilst this sadly doesn't always stop it happening, it would mean that his behaviour on the day at the station would have more likely to have been noticed.

I agree and think it is harder to hide your body if you commit suicide. Not do you eat pizza or play Xbox. There is no note. The only hesitation I have is Andrew's grumpiness the morning he left home for London. However, this would not be unusual for a fourteen-year-old. There can come a day when you are around that age when you make the first daring move to rebel and not be the goody you have always been. Maybe Andrew had that moment and that day.

One thing I learned when a mental health advocate is suicidal feelings are transitory and we have a trip to London. We have a possible sighting of Andrew eating pizza. (A fugue state might be possible. However, that would have resulted in someone noticing a boy acting oddly. Andrew was not acting oddly.) He was a boy on a train going on a journey with an Xbox to play games on. There is some thought in the trip. It is not random or hap-hazard. Money is obtained. There is a plan to go to London and even what is taken shows planning. To escape in haste would mean, to my mind, a larger bag and irrelevant items. I see a boy going on a journey who probably knew there would be music to face at a later date, but the need for a break and to get away was stronger than the need to stay and be bored.

Accident or foul play are the obvious conclusions -or a desire to disappear. But then one asks of an intelligent boy, why keep directly in sight of any CCTV at all? Andrew looks like he is looking for someone coming out of the station, but no sign of furtiveness. Also, suppose you want to disappear; would you wear clothes that made you easy to identify? His T shirt and bag show that. They are more likely the kind of clothing you wear if you want to be seen as member of a certain group of people into the same things you are. They do not say "hide me," but they do say "see me." I see no sign of Andrew wanting to hide from view except in his home town. Once safely away he is not afraid to be in plain view at the station.

It just occurred to me. If you wanted to leave clues, the ticket incident is memorable and the CCTV at the station is memorable. The clothing is memorable.

 

[jaycool]

I doubt suicide, i think his body would have been found by now. The UK is mostly accessible with well connected areas, plenty of tourists and dog walkers in reservoir areas and national parks, thats why i think it is difficult to kill yourself and never be found.

I think there is an exception in countries like the US and Canada because the countries are so huge and there is so much wilderness. You could easily go to the Yukon Territory and disappear leaving no trace of yourself imo. But you could not go to somewhere like Snowdonia National Park and do the same.

Having worked with suicidal people in years gone i can say that a minority of them do not like the idea of taking their lives "locally" and "publicly", they prefer their death to be away from locality and as private as possible, some don't even want their bodies to be found so seek out areas where they are unlikely to be found.

Some people are known to do their favorite things before they take their life but I personally think he went to London to do fun things while waiting for someone to meet him, the other person probably had/has a job there, Andrew could have waited for this person to finish their work shift. Jmo.

 

[sundaaaay]

I actually think someone else is involved too...it was just such an out of character thing to do having never missed school before. Its almost like he made a commitment to someone else to go. One thing that I think is true, is that Andrew was very bored with his life in home and school,
and he was looking for something and that desire put him in a vulnerable position.

 

[Elainera]

I also think suicide and even an accident are unlikely because in a densely populated area like London his body almost certainly would have been found by now.

If he met with foul play it would be less likely his body would be found though.

But I'm leaning towards that maybe he met up with someone, male or female, kid or adult, who is also missing but the connection has never been made. Two lads who decide to meet up in an exciting city, have an adventure. German teen Maria Henselmann comes to mind who at the age of 13 went off with an older man. They settled in Italy for years, flying under the radar, doing odd jobs, before she resurfaced last year as a now 18 year old. It can happen.

 

[puppyraiser]

I think he had a plan when he left. Gaming systems back in 2007 were large, heavy and bulky to just carry around. He left home with that particular item but not the charging cord so IMO he was headed to a place that already had the necessary cords. If he planned on selling it for quick cash, he likely would have taken all the accessories to maximize the cash return.

I watched the video posted up-thread but didn't hear mention whether or not the family or police had monitored gaming sites and checked to see if his username or similar names popped up around the time he disappeared.

 

[jaycool]

I dont know much about PSPs i must admit. Does PSP allow you to use the internet and chat with online players? If yes this opens a door of possibilities.
There would be a lot of free Wifi in London, perhaps back in Andrew's hometown as well, perhaps he did not use computers for internet but relied on his PSP?

I wonder if he met this person through an online game or through a chat room using the PSP? I dont know.. if so it would certainly keep his online activity a secret.
Regarding the charger cord I'd bet the other person had their own PSP handheld with a charger and this is how they were ultimately connected with each other.

Imo he did not take his charger for one of two reasons. One; he expected to be back home within 24-48 hours or Two; the other person he went to meet had their own charger and he knew this upon leaving for London. People's minds also change, the longer he was away perhaps the more he wanted to stay.

I am leaning toward online gaming friend or a buddy he chatted with online whom he had a fascination with.
The only other thing i could come up with is that he met someone at a previous concert or event and could contact the person through PSP.

I dont think it was a friend they had known for years, probably more of a recent friend, someone they had known online 3-6 months, as a teen i never revealed the names of my online friends, it came naturally. Some people do meet new people at concerts, keeping in contact i.e email address, online username etc.

Just a thought. Jmo.

 

[emem1138]

I dont know much about PSPs i must admit. Does PSP allow you to use the internet and chat with online players? If yes this opens a door of possibilities.
There would be a lot of free Wifi in London, perhaps back in Andrew's hometown as well, perhaps he did not use computers for internet but relied on his PSP?

I wonder if he met this person through an online game or through a chat room using the PSP? I dont know.. if so it would certainly keep his online activity a secret.
Regarding the charger cord I'd bet the other person had their own PSP handheld with a charger and this is how they were ultimately connected with each other.

Imo he did not take his charger for one of two reasons. One; he expected to be back home within 24-48 hours or Two; the other person he went to meet had their own charger and he knew this upon leaving for London. People's minds also change, the longer he was away perhaps the more he wanted to stay.

I am leaning toward online gaming friend or a buddy he chatted with online whom he had a fascination with.
The only other thing i could come up with is that he met someone at a previous concert or event and could contact the person through PSP.

I dont think it was a friend they had known for years, probably more of a recent friend, someone they had known online 3-6 months, as a teen i never revealed the names of my online friends, it came naturally. Some people do meet new people at concerts, keeping in contact i.e email address, online username etc.

Just a thought. Jmo.

I believe Sony checked out the PSP and his account and verified that it was never used to go online.

As for Andrew leaving his charger at home because whomever he was meeting had one themselves and would have let him borrow it--i agree that this is very plausible.