Found Deceased UK - Richard Okorogheye, 19, Oxford Student, Ladbroke Grove, West London, 24 March 2021 #2

[tedtink]

Every might be a stretch but any decent parent likes to think they know their child well and would realise something was going on. Yet teenage pregnancies, abuse, suicides etc happen all the time that take decent parents completely by surprise.

I agree with that, but meant that there is also a good amount of parents that would realise

 

[yoannaparis]

so sad RIP Richard

 

[halfbrilliant]

As I thought. A sad case of a sad boy who was taken by his depression.

Forgive my possible naivety here, but this is not what ‘unexplained” suggests to me. To me it takes some weird inexplicable (obviously) stuff for law enforcement to come out and say they’re essentially stumped especially after significant searching, delays etc.

Or am I wrong here - is “unexplained” merely a stepping stone to them confirming he took his own life, or a death by misadventure perhaps?

Either way this is monstrously sad. But it seems in terms of the mystery of it all we are not out of the woods yet - pun respectfully intended

 

[MsMiniSleuth]

On Monday, 5 April, at approximately 14:01hrs, the Met was informed by colleagues from Essex Police that the body of a man had been found in a lake in Epping Forest.

Formal identification has now taken place and the body has been confirmed as that of 19-year-old Richard Okorogheye.

Richard went missing from his home in Ladbroke Grove on Monday, 22 March. He was reported missing on Wednesday, 24 March.

His next of kin have been informed and are being supported by specialist officers.

Richard’s death is being treated as unexplained and police do not believe, at this stage, that there was any third-party involvement. A forensic post mortem took place on Wednesday, 7 April. The cause of death is pending whilst further investigations are carried out, however it found no evidence of physical trauma or assault.

As a matter of routine, as Richard had been reported missing prior to the discovery of his body, a referral has been made to the Met’s Directorate of Professional Standards (DPS) and to the Independent Office for Police Conduct.

Detective Superintendent Danny Gosling, Head of the Met’s Central West Public Protection Unit, said, “My deepest sympathies go out to Richard’s family at this incredibly difficult time. This was not the outcome that any of us had hoped for and we will ensure that his grieving family are well-supported by specially trained officers.

“I would like to extend my thanks to the many officers, staff and members of the public who have each played a part in the extensive effort to locate Richard.”

The investigation into the circumstances of Richard’s death is ongoing.

Specialist search teams remain in parts of Epping Forest, Loughton as they continue to carry out further searches as part of the investigation.

Body found in Epping Forest formally identified as 19-year-old Richard Okorogheye

 

[Commoner]

So sorry to read this update.

No third party involvement does sound like suicide is strongly suspected. A matter for the Coroner now, I suppose?

 

[MarziPanda]

Forgive my possible naivety here, but this is not what ‘unexplained” suggests to me. To me it takes some weird inexplicable (obviously) stuff for law enforcement to come out and say they’re essentially stumped especially after significant searching, delays etc.

Or am I wrong here - is “unexplained” merely a stepping stone to them confirming he took his own life, or a death by misadventure perhaps?

Either way this is monstrously sad. But it seems in terms of the mystery of it all we are not out of the woods yet - pun respectfully intended

The latter. UK police often use 'unexplained' to describe a death where the cause isn't immediately obvious. It may be concluded one way or another after an autopsy, or maybe not until the conclusion of an inquest.

 

[Sherlock'sBlonde]

Forgive my possible naivety here, but this is not what ‘unexplained” suggests to me. To me it takes some weird inexplicable (obviously) stuff for law enforcement to come out and say they’re essentially stumped especially after significant searching, delays etc.

Or am I wrong here - is “unexplained” merely a stepping stone to them confirming he took his own life, or a death by misadventure perhaps?

Either way this is monstrously sad. But it seems in terms of the mystery of it all we are not out of the woods yet - pun respectfully intended

I think it's telling that LE stated that they're not looking for any third party JMO

 

[Sarahlou]

RIP Richard. Thoughts with his loved ones.

 

[shadwell]

Forgive my possible naivety here, but this is not what ‘unexplained” suggests to me. To me it takes some weird inexplicable (obviously) stuff for law enforcement to come out and say they’re essentially stumped especially after significant searching, delays etc.

Or am I wrong here - is “unexplained” merely a stepping stone to them confirming he took his own life, or a death by misadventure perhaps?

Either way this is monstrously sad. But it seems in terms of the mystery of it all we are not out of the woods yet - pun respectfully intended

The standard UK police euphemism for presumed suicide is "unexplained, but not suspicious circumstances." The lack of "but not suspicious" in the police statement tonight may indicate that they are awaiting the results of further tests before entirely ruling out any third party involvement.

 

[Commoner]

Or am I wrong here - is “unexplained” merely a stepping stone to them confirming he took his own life, or a death by misadventure perhaps?

It would be wrong if the police to pre-empt the role of the Coroner, who will determine as fully as possible how Richard came to die. Suicide or accident/misadventure seem to be the likeliest possibilities.

 

[shadwell]

Forgive my possible naivety here, but this is not what ‘unexplained” suggests to me. To me it takes some weird inexplicable (obviously) stuff for law enforcement to come out and say they’re essentially stumped especially after significant searching, delays etc.

Or am I wrong here - is “unexplained” merely a stepping stone to them confirming he took his own life, or a death by misadventure perhaps?

Either way this is monstrously sad. But it seems in terms of the mystery of it all we are not out of the woods yet - pun respectfully intended

The standard UK police euphemism for presumed suicide is "unexplained, but not suspicious circumstances." The lack of "but not suspicious" in the police statement tonight may indicate that they are awaiting the results of further tests before entirely ruling out any third party involvement.

 

[Froggypizza]

The paper that decided to publish the pictures of ROs mum at the forest, and the “photographer” that decided to take them are absolutely abhorrent. It astonishes me what our press is allowed to get away with.

 

[sleuthheywood7]

R.I.P Richard! So heartbreakingly sad. His mother and family are very much in my thoughts tonight

 

[JuicyLucy]

Well, I was way off the mark with my theories, though I will await the inquest with interest. It's terribly sad. I'm not religious but will think of him and his poor mum this evening, and all those on the thread who have shared their experiences of suicidality.

 

[MsMiniSleuth]

The paper that decided to publish the pictures of ROs mum at the forest, and the “photographer” that decided to take them are absolutely abhorrent. It astonishes me what our press is allowed to get away with.

Whether you agree with it or not, that is the usual practice of the press ,and it was not one paper or one tog. It is a news story and in the case of a death, of a child or woman particularly, it will always garner interest in pictures.

 

[halfbrilliant]

Everyone is likely aware that is the usual practice of the press. I hope it continues to be ‘usual practice’ for a growing number of us to talk about how abhorrent the practice is, and perhaps one day some sort of privacy protections for extremely vulnerable and grieving people might be created.

 

[Inverloch]

There’s a baying mob on Twitter blaming the police for fobbing off his mother & not locating him sooner. Is there any truth in this?

Could he have been saved?

 

[KHA]

The whole thing is unbearably sad. I have four sons, two are teenagers. My heart aches for how he must have felt and in his last moments alone. And for his mother, father and wider friends and family. It’s just such a loss. RIP Richard.

 

[pokerowan]

There’s a baying mob on Twitter blaming the police for fobbing off his mother & not locating him sooner. Is there any truth in this?

Could he have been saved?

RO's mum has definitely stated that to be her experience more than once.

Whether he could have survived - it depends on PMI. Unfortunately I think that even if the police had responded as soon as he was realised missing, he would have already done what he set out to do (or met with misadventure).

 

[Commoner]

There’s a baying mob on Twitter blaming the police for fobbing off his mother & not locating him sooner. Is there any truth in this?

Could he have been saved?

Saved? It depends what he did and when.

If his intention was suicide, and he achieved it in the hours following the last CCTV sighting, then no he could not have been saved as his mother was still at work, and did not know that he'd gone out (just that he wasn't answering his phone). The police couldn't act until someone has noticed he's gone. And she couldn't help being at work in those first hours, or needing to sleep at the end of a shift.

But perhaps the police could have found him earlier, if they had acted sooner and got the taxi lead earlier. That would have shortened the period of uncertainty for his family. But saved him? Probably not, unless full PM findings lead them to change their assessment of no third party involvement