logo
Mystery deepens over girl, 19, who vanished on night out with pal a year ago – then was found dead in lake 2 days later

Mystery deepens over girl, 19, who vanished on night out with pal a year ago – then was found dead in lake 2 days later

The Sun08-05-2025

THE tragic death of a teenager is still being probed by cops a year after she disappeared.
Reagan Brown disappeared on May 6 last year after meeting a friend at Leazes Park in Newcastle.
6
6
The 19-year-old and her pal had been sitting on a bench in the park when Reagan disappeared behind a bush to go to the toilet and never returned.
At around 10:30pm on the night of her disappearance her parents received a call saying that she had gone missing.
Searches involving police divers and mountain rescue teams were launched.
Her body was sadly discovered two days later in the lake in Leazes Park.
6
6
An inquest into the teen's death was opened in December with a coroner stating the provisional cause of death was "drowning."
The inquest into Reagan's death was adjourned.
Northumbria police have now confirmed that they are still looking into the tragic death of the teen.
Two suspects, who were arrested after Reagan's death, are still under investigation.
Reagan's parents, Frank and Katrina Brown, live in Hexham, Northumbria.
They have previously criticised police for their poor communication.
They told of how they were left "begging" for updates on their daughters case.
Reagan's father, Frank Brown, spoke to The Sun today on behalf of the family.
He said: "There's a hole in our family with Reagan gone. We will never be the same again.
"There is a headache that follows us from when we wake till when we sleep.
"Reagan will always be missed but never forgotten."
Reagan's parents were subjected to multiple raids on their home in the wake of their daughters disappearance.
On May 7 and May 8 last year Frank and Katrina's home was turned over by cops.
Katrina believes that the police were looking for a body or suicide note in her home.
She claimed at the time that the police were using drones to follow the couple.
According to Frank, police were in their home when they received the call stating a body had been found in the lake.
Despite making two arrests Police said at the time they did not believe Reagan's death was suspicious.
6
6
A Northumbria Police spokesperson said: 'Our thoughts remain firmly with the family and friends of Reagan Brown following her tragic death in May last year.
'Almost a year on, our investigation into Reagan's death remains ongoing.
'As part of our enquiries, two people in their 20s were arrested – one was arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of Class B drugs and the second on suspicion of threats to kill.
'They were subsequently released under investigation pending further enquiries.
"Both people remain under investigation at this time.'

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Councils ‘covered up grooming gangs scandal'
Councils ‘covered up grooming gangs scandal'

Telegraph

time27 minutes ago

  • Telegraph

Councils ‘covered up grooming gangs scandal'

A new grooming gangs public inquiry will target areas where councils have covered up scandals. Baroness Casey, who led an audit into the scale of grooming, has recommended that a national inquiry should be set up to co-ordinate a series of targeted local investigations. These will be overseen by a new independent commission with full statutory inquiry powers to compel witnesses to attend. The proposed inquiry should be 'time-limited, targeted and proportionate to the number of victims', to avoid long delays. The new commission will draw on criminal investigations, including a new nationwide probe by the National Crime Agency (NCA) and evidence from victims and witnesses. It would have the authority to establish local investigations in areas where statutory services are found to have failed or obstructed justice.. Sir Keir Starmer announced at the weekend that he will accept the recommendations of Lady Casey's 200-page report after previously resisting calls for a national inquiry and accusing proponents of ' jumping on the bandwagon of the far Right '. The Prime Minister said that he had changed his mind after reading Lady Casey's audit into the scale and nature of grooming gangs which will be published on Monday afternoon. Her review is understood to have established an explicit link between grooming gangs and men of Pakistani origin. She will confirm concerns that the victims were let down by councils and police by being ' institutionally ignored for fear of racism '. She will say that there will need to be a process to identify cases and allegations of statutory agencies' failures, with the Government developing criteria to determine the 'types and extent' of failures that could trigger a local hearing. It is understood that the Government received the report 10 days ago and has already started work on setting up the framework for the inquiry. A chairman is expected to be appointed 'within weeks'. Sarah Champion, the MP for Rotherham who has campaigned for justice for victims, welcomed an inquiry into the cover-up of grooming scandals. She said: 'I would say that cover up is a strong word. I would use it to be honest. I have an intense frustration that, not the frontline staff, but further up the management chain, there were people who were actively blocking reports. There are people who, if not held to criminal standards, should be held to a professional standard for their negligence in protecting these children. 'What I saw was those people that would have faced the most criticism have left, taken early retirement, changed to a different job, and some of them are having very successful careers. That's an intense frustration when, because of their negligence, they have let children continue to be exposed, exploited and not secure justice.' Nazir Afzal, the former chief prosecutor for north west England, said he was sceptical about whether a national inquiry could deliver justice but believed the national investigation by the NCA could do so. He added: 'Only criminal investigations can bring real accountability. That's where you can use all the powers police have in terms of investigation and going through all the documents, and then interviewing people under caution. 'That's what needs to happen, and that's what I've always been for, is not just those who offended but also those who stood by and did not do what they were meant to do. That's how you deliver accountability. And unfortunately, my experience of national inquiries is that they take forever and don't deliver accountability.' Sammy Woodhouse, a victim, said of a new national inquiry: 'It needs to investigate every single council and police force in this country. It needs to be independent, and it needs to have the statutory power. 'I want people named. We need to name, shame and bring these people to account, because not one person has been set to account yet. We hear that lessons have been learnt, well, no lessons have been learnt because we're still here. We're still decades on, trying to fight for this, and still, of course, happening today.' Yvette Cooper, the Home Secretary, said: 'The vulnerable young girls who suffered unimaginable abuse at the hands of groups of adult men have now grown into brave women who are rightly demanding justice for what they went through when they were just children. 'Not enough people listened to them then. That was wrong and unforgivable. We are changing that now.' Chris Philp, the shadow home secretary, said the inquiry must consider 'whether officials and public servants who covered up or turned a blind eye to the rapes should be investigated for the crime of misconduct in public office'. He added: 'Keir Starmer's inquiry u-turn is too little, too late. He smeared those, including me, calling for a national inquiry into the rape gangs scandal as 'far-Right' and now he's been forced into a u-turn by the bite we planned next week and the imminent Casey report. 'The NCA announcement is a desperate smokescreen cooked up over the weekend to distract from Labour's failures. 'Labour spent six months blocking a statutory inquiry. That is six months of delayed justice. Yvette Cooper led the opposition to an inquiry, and now she pretends she thinks it's a great idea. Labour needs to get a grip and put the survivors of these appalling crimes first. 'We need a proper inquiry with full powers to uncover the truth.'

Ex-soldier who brutally murdered mum with meat cleaver before dismembering her body could be FREED early from jail
Ex-soldier who brutally murdered mum with meat cleaver before dismembering her body could be FREED early from jail

The Sun

time27 minutes ago

  • The Sun

Ex-soldier who brutally murdered mum with meat cleaver before dismembering her body could be FREED early from jail

A SOLDIER who brutally murdered a young mother with a meat cleaver could soon be freed from prison. Killer Stephen Wynne murdered 27-year-old mum-of-three Chantel Taylor by striking her in the neck and then dismembering her body with a saw. 3 3 Wynne, who was 26 at the time of the murder in 2004, later stashed Chantel's remains in her own loft before moving them a few days later into a nearby woods and the local tip. Her body was never discovered, meaning her family were forced to hold a funeral with just traces of her DNA from the murder scene in Birkenhead. Now the Sun Online can reveal Wynne, who was sentenced to life in prison in 2006 after pleading guilty to murder, is set to appear before the Parole Board in two weeks. His will 'horrify' Chantel's family, according to one MP. Esther McVey who has been supporting the family said: "In this case life should mean life." Wynne was originally sentenced to life with a minimum term of 21 years was reduced to 18 on appeal. In 2023 he won the right to be moved to an open prison after a judge dismissed an objection by the then Deputy Prime Minister, Dominic Raab. A senior judge ruled in Wynne's favour, concluding that the Government had provided "no good reason" for rejecting the board's recommendation. Ms Taylor's mother, Jean Taylor, has previously told of the 'deep distress and devastation' felt by her family over the murder. Earlier this year Mrs Taylor travelled to London to present a petition to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer demanding a change in the law alongside Chantel's daughter, Whitney, 31, her sister, Natasha, 53 and Ms McVey. They say current rules known as Helen's Law, in memory of Helen McCourt, whereby a killer who refuses to disclose the location of their victim's remains are barred from being granted parole, has a "significant limitation". Chantel's family say Helen's law allows offenders who falsely claimed to reveal the location of concealed body parts to 'avoid the full accountability they deserve during parole hearings.' A Parole Board spokesperson said: "An oral hearing has been listed for the parole review of Stephen Wynne and is scheduled to take place in June 2025. "Parole Board decisions are solely focused on what risk a prisoner could represent to the public if released and whether that risk is manageable in the community. 'A panel will carefully examine a huge range of evidence, including details of the original crime, and any evidence of behaviour change, as well as explore the harm done and impact the crime has had on the victims. 'Members read and digest hundreds of pages of evidence and reports in the lead up to an oral hearing. 'Evidence from witnesses including probation officers, psychiatrists and psychologists, officials supervising the offender in prison as well as victim personal statements are then given at the hearing. 'The prisoner and witnesses are then questioned at length during the hearing which often lasts a full day or more. 'Parole reviews are undertaken thoroughly and with extreme care. Protecting the public is our number one priority.'

Cyclist, 81, dies days after A165 Bridlington crash
Cyclist, 81, dies days after A165 Bridlington crash

BBC News

time30 minutes ago

  • BBC News

Cyclist, 81, dies days after A165 Bridlington crash

An 81-year-old cyclist has died nearly two weeks after a crash in Bridlington, police have Armitage was involved in a crash with a Chevrolet Captiva SUV at the junction of the A165 and Grindale Lane on 2 Police said he was being treated in hospital for serious injuries but died on Armitage's family are being supported by specially trained officers and have asked for privacy, the force added. Listen to highlights from Hull and East Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store