Latest news with #GlenGodfrey
Daily Mail
10-07-2025
- Daily Mail
Family of missing man 'drank water from reservoir where his decomposing body lay undiscovered for six months'
The grieving family of a missing man drank water from a reservoir where his decomposing body laid undiscovered for half a year. Glen Godfrey, 38, was first reported missing by his mother Denise, on December 22 last year, 18 days after he was last seen. Surrey Police assured the family that his body was '100 percent not in the water', saying divers had searched the King George VI Reservoir in Staines, Surrey. However, his body was discovered in there by a Thames Water employee, six months after his disappearance, on May 13. The reservoir, which is situated near Heathrow Airport, is owned by the water firm and supplies drinking water to Londoners across the capital city. Now his heartbroken cousin, Amy, has blasted the 'dismissive' police force, claiming her family and community had been drinking the water from the same reservoir. She also alleged recovery experts told the family Glen was definitely not in the water, as he would have emerged after 37 days. Yet the family's questions remain unanswered as Glen's body was found in the same location months later. She told The Sun: 'Glen's body was finally discovered in the reservoir, a body of water that police had repeatedly assured us had been thoroughly searched twice. 'We've begged the police for answers and transparency, but they've been extremely dismissive. They don't want to tell us what they found in the post-mortem exam.' There are several key details which could unearth the truth, but continue to remain unanswered, according to the mourning relative. These questions include, if there was water in Glen's lungs or if there were drugs or alcohol in his system. Amy also claimed Glen was last seen with a homeless man and a woman, yet despite their alleged 'inconsistent' accounts they weren't treated as person of interest. Before vanishing at a camp on Staines Moor, Glen was also seen withdrawing money from a bank and told a cashier he was heading to a party, according to his cousin. She said the family have received 'hundreds of messages' from people claiming to have come into contact with the two individuals with whom Glen was last seen. 'Many of these messages contain chilling stories of threats, intimidation and even fear for their own lives,' she said. A GoFundMe page was launched in a bid to help track down Glen, eventually raising over £5,000. The funds were used to pay for private specialist teams as well as search dogs in the desperate hunt for the 38-year-old. Amy said the dogs indicated Glen was present in the body of water months before he was eventually discovered, but police dismissed it as 'just silts of mud'. She also revealed family, friends and strangers searched for her cousin on a daily basis, putting their own safety at risk in a bid to locate Glen. 'We could never thank these selfless individuals enough,' she said. Now, the family have started a petition to introduce a piece of legislation called 'Glen's Law'. The petition read: 'Glen's story is not unique. Across the nation, families face the abyss of uncertainty when a loved one goes missing, especially in cases involving bodies of water. 'We demand a change; we need "Glen's Law," a national framework to ensure immediate, professional, and effective responses to all missing persons cases.' A Surrey Police spokesperson said: 'We continue to offer our thoughts to Glen's family following the sad discovery of his body at the King George VI Reservoir in Stanwell earlier this year. 'Following the report to Surrey Police on 22 December 2024, we carried out a robust investigation to initially find Glen, and subsequently when his body was found, to rule out any third party involvement in his death. 'We explored various lines of enquiry, including reviewing CCTV and phone records. 'We also carried out interviews with those Glen was last known to be with, released public appeals for information and conducted extensive searches in the vicinity of where he was last sighted. 'This included using specialist search and rescue teams, underwater sonar equipment and dive teams to assist in finding him. 'We have remained in contact with Glen's next of kin, and are aware that some members of his family continue to have questions around his death. 'The matter is now an investigation that will continue by the Surrey Coroner and an inquest will take place in due course. 'We have attempted to engage with Glen's wider family to provide additional support at what remains a difficult time, and have encouraged them to use our complaints process if they remain unsatisfied with Surrey Police.'
Perth Now
10-07-2025
- Perth Now
Family drank water from reservoir where decomposing son lay
The family of a missing man were drinking water from the same reservoir where his body lay decomposing for six months. Glen Godfrey, 38, was reported missing in December, and police assured his family that divers had thoroughly searched the nearby King George VI Reservoir in Staines, Surrey. His body was eventually discovered six months later on May 13 this year, with his family members shocked and devastated that their home's water supply was sourced from the same reservoir that hid the body of their loved one. The reservoir belongs to Thames Water, and supplies drinking water across London. Mr Godfrey's cousin, Amy McGill, told The Sun that water recovery experts had said he was '100 per cent not in the reservoir' on the basis that 'flotation occurs after 37 days'. Ms McGill said the family had 'begged police for answers and transparency' but said they had been 'extremely dismissive'. 'They don't want to tell us what they found in the post-mortem exam,' she said. 'These are really important details that could lead us to the truth as to what happened to him.' Before Mr Godfrey's body was found, his family had led searches with a team of public volunteers. Ms McGill said they paid for specialist search teams, even using search dogs, which had indicated that Mr Godfrey was in the reservoir. She said police had 'dismissed' the findings. Glen Godfrey's body was found in the King George VI reservoir, near Heathrow Airport. Credit: Matthew Lloyd / Bloomberg In response to the family's accusations, Surrey Police said officers 'carried out a robust investigation to initially find Glen, and subsequently when his body was found, to rule out any third party involvement in his death.' Surrey Police said the investigation will be continued by the Surrey Coroner, and that an inquest will take place. The family have created a petition for 'Glen's Law' to call for 'immediate, professional and effective responses to all missing persons cases'. The petition states the law should include requirements for accountability of public services, consideration of third parties, compassionate communication and the appointment of family liaison officers. 'We cannot allow another family to endure the pain and suffering that lack of action and professionalism brings,' the petition reads. 'This is a call to our legislators, law enforcement agencies, and community leaders to implement urgent systemic changes. Let us honour Glen Godfreys life by ensuring no other family feels this agony.' If you or someone you know needs help, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14.
The Sun
09-07-2025
- The Sun
Missing man's family ‘drank water from same reservoir where his decomposing body was left to rot for 6 months'
THE FAMILY of a missing man were drinking water from the same reservoir his body had been decomposing in for six months. Glen Godfrey's body was found six months after he was first reported missing last December, despite police reassuring his family that divers had scoured the King George VI Reservoir in Staines, Surrey. 4 4 The 38-year-old's devastated relatives claim that Surrey Police assured them his body was "100% not in the water", after experts explained it would have resurfaced after 37 days. The reservoir, located near Heathrow Airport, belongs to Thames Water and supplies drinking water across London. Glen's mother, Denise, reported him missing 18 days after he was last seen in Staines on December 4 last year. His bereaved cousin, Amy McGill, slammed the "dismissive" cops after his body was eventually discovered in the same body of water by a Thames Water employee on May 13. She also accused them of failing to question two people who were allegedly with Glen right before he died and saw him jump in the reservoir. Speaking to The Sun, Amy fumed: "We, as a family and as a community, were drinking water from the very reservoir where Glen's body was decomposing. 'Glen's body was finally discovered in the reservoir, a body of water that police had repeatedly assured us had been thoroughly searched twice. "We've begged the police for answers and transparency, but they've been extremely dismissive. 'They don't want to tell us what they found in the post-mortem exam. "These are really important details that could lead us to the truth as to what happened to him. 'I don't know, for example, if he had any water in his lungs, drugs or alcohol in his system, or anything else. 'We were told by water recovery experts that Glen was 100% not in the reservoir, claiming that flotation occurs after 37 days. 'And yet, Glen was later found right there." The family, from Ashford, Surrey, said they have unanswered questions as to why his body did not resurface after 37 days. They decided to take matters into their own hands, leading untrained searches with public volunteers themselves. A GoFundMe page was also set up to fund the desperate search, raising more than £5,000. Amy said: 'We privately funded specialist search teams and even brought in search dogs. 'These dogs signalled Glen's presence in the reservoir, months before his body was found. 'The police dismissed these indications as 'just silts of mud'. 'Glen's family, friends, and even strangers, conducted our own daily searches, risking our safety without proper equipment or training. 'We could never thank these selfless individuals enough. "Surrey Police would make Facebook posts and our community would ask questions why they didn't check properly. 'The police would delete their posts, even after editing them, silencing conversation and avoiding responsibility.' They have also launched a petition to create "Glen's Law" after their six month battle for answers. The law calls for better accountability from authorities, compassionate communication between families and authorities, family liaison officers and consideration of third-party involvement. On the petition's official page, the family said: 'Glen's story is not unique. 'Across the nation, families face the abyss of uncertainty when a loved one goes missing, especially in cases involving bodies of water. 'We demand a change; we need 'Glen's Law,' a national framework to ensure immediate, professional, and effective responses to all missing persons cases.' Recounting Glen's last steps, Amy added: "His last known moments were with a homeless man and woman. 'Their accounts were troubling and inconsistent, yet they were never treated as persons of interest. "Glen was seen withdrawing money from his bank, telling the cashier he was going to a party. 'Hours later, he vanished at their camp on Staines Moor, never to be seen alive again. 4 'When we reported him missing, we asked why there was no attempt to report that he's just gone missing. 'The homeless pair bizarrely claimed that he randomly took off his boots, jumped over 8 feet fences and into the water. 'If that did truly happen, you'd be concerned and let someone know. Instead, they shrugged it off as 'he just ran off'. 'What's even more alarming is that we've received hundreds of messages from members of the public who encountered the two individuals Glen was last seen with. 'Many of these messages contain chilling stories of threats, intimidation, and even fear for their own lives.' The family's local community hailing from surrounding areas such as Staines, Ashford, Hounslow and Heathrow have taken to social media to share their thoughts. One Facebook user wrote: 'Maybe if Surrey Police listened to the poor family, six months they have been through this! 'No support from Surrey police for this family at all. It's absolutely heartbreaking.' Another added: 'Isn't the reservoir used for drinking water? 'How can Surrey Police not search this more extensively? '6 months worth of drinking water with potential human remains in? 'Not only let the family down. Let the wider community down as well. "Disgraceful response.' In response, Surrey Police defended its "robust" investigation into Glen's disappearance. A spokesperson for the force said: "We continue to offer our thoughts to Glen's family following the sad discovery of his body at the King George VI Reservoir in Stanwell earlier this year. 'Following the report to Surrey Police on 22 December 2024, we carried out a robust investigation to initially find Glen, and subsequently when his body was found, to rule out any third party involvement in his death. 'We explored various lines of enquiry, including reviewing CCTV and phone records. "We also carried out interviews with those Glen was last known to be with, released public appeals for information and conducted extensive searches in the vicinity of where he was last sighted. "This included using specialist search and rescue teams, underwater sonar equipment and dive teams to assist in finding him. 'We have remained in contact with Glen's next of kin, and are aware that some members of his family continue to have questions around his death. "The matter is now an investigation that will continue by the Surrey Coroner and an inquest will take place in due course. "We have attempted to engage with Glen's wider family to provide additional support at what remains a difficult time, and have encouraged them to use our complaints process if they remain unsatisfied with Surrey Police.' Thames Water has been approached for comment.
