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19-year-old Richard Okorogheye was reported missing from his home in Ladbroke Grove on the 23rd of March 2021. His body was found two weeks later in a pond in Epping Forest, Essex. The teenager’s death is currently being treated as unexplained, with no indication that anyone else was involved.
Okorogheye was a student at Oxford Brookes University, and had been shielding due to living with sickle cell disease. His mother, Evidence Joel, said that his disappearance was out of character, as he had “never done anything like this”. Joel explained that her son had been struggling with online university, and she believes he went to meet someone on the day of his disappearance. Specifically, she fears that he went to meet someone who had “built [his] confidence and trust” online.
Okorogheye had told his mother that he was going to meet a friend, and indicated he would see her later that day. Joel, who is a nurse, returned home from work at approximately 9pm. She assumed her son was in his room, but found that was not the case after knocking on his door, and as her telephone calls were left unanswered. Okorogheye left behind his wallet, bus pass, and bank card. Joel doubts that her son would have deliberately travelled “deep into [Epping Forest] of his own accord”, and he did not bring his sickle cell medication with him.
The Metropolitan Police’s initial response to the case has come under serious criticism. When Joel informed an officer that her son was missing, she was reportedly met with the response: “If you can’t find your son, how do you expect police officers to find your son for you?” She explained, “I was expecting assurance. My son was missing and it broke my heart.” Joel says it felt as if the police were “[counting] the minutes” when she would call about her son’s case, and Joel felt she was dismissed as “just being frantic” or having “nothing better to do”. Okorogheye’s mother also expressed concerns about the police’s understanding of sickle cell disease - a condition which can cause excruciating pain - as officers claimed the 19-year-old would be able to “find his way to hospital” if necessary.
Joel has described herself as feeling “disappointed” by the Met’s initial reaction to her son going missing, but noted that the quality of the investigation improved with time. She elaborated, “The following week, I could see that the police were actively searching for Richard and the investigation was picking up. Since then, I am very pleased with the way police have been working.”
Police reportedly first heard about Okorogheye’s disappearance on the 23rd of March, although did not officially record him as missing until 8am the next day. This decision came after “an initial assessment and careful consideration of the information available”.
The 39-year-old described how her heart has been “ripped apart” by the death of her son. She feels “completely hollow and devastated and empty”, and stated: “I want answers. I desperately need closure.”
Joel has been to visit the site where Okorogheye’s body was found, and recalled: “It was a very uncomfortable place to be.” She added, “My son that I know cannot walk into that darkness – no torch, no light. An hour and 30 minutes from where he was last seen. He must have guts to do that. He’s only 19. What could push him to go that far if he wasn’t meeting somebody?”
Okorogheye is remembered as “the perfect child” by his mother, who feels “lucky” to have had such a son. Joel intends to create a foundation in his memory, which will support those living with sickle cell disease, and those struggling with their mental health. A GoFundMe page has already been set up to alleviate funeral costs, and to pay for a memorial bench near where Okorogheye was found.
According to The Guardian, “a referral has been made to the Met's Directorate of Professional Standards and to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) “as a matter of routine” over the handling of the student’s disappearance.”
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