Latest news with #MissingPeople
Daily Record
3 days ago
- Daily Record
Mum's 'miracle' as son missing for six weeks returns home after 'police mistake'
"He was a vulnerable young adult. I don't understand why they just let him go in that condition. They should have shown more of a duty of care." A mum has told of a "miracle" as her teenage son returned home after going missing for six weeks following a "huge police mistake". Deante James, 17, vanished from his home in Enfield, North London, in March after smoking what he thought was cannabis. He was then found on May 17. The teen was unaware it contained the synthetic cannabinoid Spice, which can cause psychosis. Deante, a normally ambitious boy who loved going to the gym, began hallucinating and hearing voices. His worried family took him to hospital, where doctors had said he had signs of drug-induced psychosis. He received treatment and was on the mend, but back at home he had another episode and on March 31 bolted out of the back door without his mobile phone or any money. Six weeks passed before he was found. Just as his mum, Vandana Bhogowoth, was losing hope, the police called to say he was safe and in hospital. Speaking to the Mirror, she said: 'I don't think I'll ever forget that day. It was probably one of the best days of my life. Oh my God, the emotions – I just burst out crying. I've never felt happiness like it. It was pure happiness – and relief.' The single mum thanked the Mirror and Sunday Mirror for running its Missed campaign, which she credits with helping to find him. Vandana, 36 – who prayed to God for help two days before hearing Deante was found on May 17 – said: 'The publicity made the police take the case more seriously. I'm really thankful to everyone, also my local MP and the Missing People charity, who pushed the police to take it seriously and get him found. I think highlighting it did push them. Everyone collectively helped – thank you. I'm so grateful.' Deante was admitted to hospital had told staff he was 18, and his parents were not traced. Vandana first told her story to the Mirror on May 11, at which point she did not know whether Deante was dead or alive. She had been told her son had been arrested by British Transport Police three days after he went missing for not being able to pay his tube fare - only for them to let him go. The college teacher now knows this was because Deante had given his name the wrong way round, and it did not flag him up as missing. She has also learned police made every effort to obtain historic mobile phone data to identify any associates who might have known where he was and trawled CCTV footage to try to locate him. But despite Deante giving the BTP officers his correct date of birth and address, police did not contact her. While Vandana searched, his older sister Jaidaima, 19, created a TikTok video of her and her brother to try to help find him. It was viewed more than 73,000 times. While grateful to the police for finding her son and letting her know he was safe, Vandana still feels a lack of joined-up communication between the essential services meant he fell through the cracks. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. She says: 'If I'm honest I am still angry. He was a vulnerable young adult. I don't understand why they just let him go in that condition. They should have shown more of a duty of care. He was a teenager with no money and no phone. Why didn't they phone his parents? "It makes me really upset because I think the [police and hospital ] could have saved me and my family this ordeal and the devastation of not knowing where he was. I tried to stay as positive as I could, but at the back of my mind I did have dark thoughts, like, 'What if he's been kidnapped? What if he's dead?'' Vandana says Deante is 'absolutely fine' now. The relieved mum adds: 'He's recovering and he's going to get back to his absolute best self, so I'm really happy, positive and extremely grateful to everyone. He's looking forward to getting his life back on track and following his dreams. As a family we can't wait to celebrate his 18th birthday now. We're going to spoil him.'
Daily Mirror
3 days ago
- Daily Mirror
'My son stayed missing after huge police mistake - it's a miracle he's home now'
Mum Vandana Bhogowoth has spoken of her joy after being reunited with missing teenage son Deante James with help from the Mirror - but is still angry at what she says were errors by police and hospital staff Deante James' mum is overjoyed to have her son back after he went missing for six weeks. Vandana Bhogowoth is now calling for better communication between authorities after several opportunities to find the teenager were missed. The mum. whose teenage son went missing for six weeks, says finding her boy alive is 'a miracle'. Vandana Bhogowoth was told by police that 17-year-old Deante James had been discovered safe in hospital after this newspaper ran her story as part of our Missed campaign. Overjoyed to know he is OK, she says: 'I don't think I'll ever forget that day. It was probably one of the best days of my life. Oh my God, the emotions – I just burst out crying. I've never felt happiness like it. It was pure happiness – and relief.' The single mum thanked the Mirror and Sunday Mirror for running our Missed campaign, which she credits with helping to find him. Bolted Vandana, 36 – who prayed to God for help two days before hearing Deante was found on May 17 – says: 'The publicity made the police take the case more seriously. I'm really thankful to everyone, also my local MP and the Missing People charity, who pushed the police to take it seriously and get him found. I think highlighting it did push them. Everyone collectively helped – thank you. I'm so grateful.' Deante went missing from his home in Enfield, North London, in March after smoking what he thought was a normal cannabis joint. He was unaware that it contained the synthetic cannabinoid Spice, which can cause psychosis. FAMILIES OF THE MISSING Missing people: Facts and Myths Every year, 170,000 people vanish in the UK – that's one person every 90 seconds. Fortunately, most return home within a few days, often without the need for a public appeal. For adults over 18, going missing isn't illegal, but the police will want to ensure their safety. If there are concerns for their welfare, a public appeal might be launched. Importantly, you don't need to wait 24 hours to report someone missing. If their absence is unusual, contact the police immediately. Any child who goes missing will be looked for by police though they are not often given public facing appeals. How the Missing People charity Supports Families Missing People works closely with the police to amplify missing appeals and provide vital support to families. They offer practical help in searches and emotional support to those affected. If you need assistance or want to see your loved one's appeal on the Missed map, call their Helpline on 116 000. It's free, confidential and non-judgemental. They are also there to listen if you are thinking of disappearing or have already left. The Role of Public Appeals Not all missing cases are made public. In situations involving domestic abuse or severe mental health issues, publicity might do more harm than good. That is one reason why you will only see a fraction of missing cases on the Missed map. When sharing appeals, it's crucial to use the official channels from the Missing People website or via the share button on the Missed map. This ensures that once the person is found, all traces of the appeal are removed, respecting their privacy. The Mirror is committed to removing digital footprints of shared appeals, ensuring the missing person's right to be forgotten is upheld. By sharing official appeals, you help protect the privacy and dignity of those who have been found. Deante, a normally ambitious boy who loved going to the gym, began hallucinating and hearing voices. His worried family took him to hospital, where doctors had said he had signs of drug-induced psychosis. He received treatment and was on the mend, but back at home he had another episode and on March 31 bolted out of the back door without his mobile phone or any money. Six weeks passed before he was found. Just as Vandana was losing hope, the police called to say he was safe and in hospital. Angry He had been admitted on April 6, but had told staff he was 18, and his parents were not traced. Vandana says: 'I felt extremely relieved and everything after that was just a blur. Me and the rest of the family rushed straight to the hospital. If I could have flown there and got there any quicker I would. I just hugged him. It was like, 'Oh my gosh, it's really you'.' Vandana first told her story to the Mirror on May 11, at which point she did not know whether Deante was dead or alive. She had been told her son had been arrested by British Transport Police three days after he went missing for not being able to pay his tube fare, only for them to let him go. The college teacher now knows that this was because Deante had given his name the wrong way round, and it did not flag him up as missing. She has also learned that police made every effort to obtain historic mobile phone data to identify any associates who might have known where he was and trawled CCTV footage to try to locate him. DEMAND ACTION FOR MISSING PEOPLE Too many missing people are falling through the cracks - harmed while away, and ignored when they return. We need a proper government strategy led by the Home Office, Education, and Health departments to stop this crisis. Right now, there's no real support. People go missing again and again - yet no one's asking why. We're calling for: A new national strategy for missing children and adults Proper support for missing people when they return Investment to stop people going missing in the first place At 10,000 signatures, the government has to respond. At 100,000, it will be debated in Parliament. That's our goal - real action. You can help by signing our petition here. But despite Deante giving the BTP officers his correct date of birth and address, police did not contact her. While Vandana searched, his older sister Jaidaima, 19, created a TikTok video of her and her brother to try to help find him. It was viewed more than 73,000 times. While grateful to the police for finding her son and letting her know he was safe, Vandana still feels that a lack of joined-up communication between the essential services meant he fell through the cracks. She says: 'If I'm honest I am still angry. He was a vulnerable young adult. I don't understand why they just let him go in that condition. They should have shown more of a duty of care. He was a teenager with no money and no phone. Why didn't they phone his parents? "It makes me really upset because I think the [police and hospital] could have saved me and my family this ordeal and the devastation of not knowing where he was. I tried to stay as positive as I could, but at the back of my mind I did have dark thoughts, like, 'What if he's been kidnapped? What if he's dead?'' Hope Deante's case highlights the need for a government strategy led by the Home Office, Education and Health Departments for a more joined-up approach between the different agencies so that missing people do not fall through the cracks – which is one of the demands of our Missed campaign. Every year 170,000 people go missing in the UK and 75,000 of those – almost half – are children under the age of 18. Vandana says: 'I believe 100 per cent that Deante could have been found sooner. I reported him missing on March 31 and if he was in hospital most of that time, why didn't the police know? 'There needs to be a better connection between hospitals and police when it comes to missing people. There could be a lot more missing people in hospital – and their families are out there looking for them. This must be happening to others and it needs to change.' Vandana says Deante is 'absolutely fine' now. The relieved mum adds: 'He's recovering and he's going to get back to his absolute best self, so I'm really happy, positive and extremely grateful to everyone. He's looking forward to getting his life back on track and following his dreams. As a family we can't wait to celebrate his 18th birthday now. We're going to spoil him.' Vandana is keen to continue supporting our Missed campaign, and is speaking out to help other families. What happened to Deante – a sociable, family-loving teenager, who does not normally take drugs or get into trouble – could happen to anyone, she says. She adds: 'If I'm honest I am still angry, because what if it happens again to another family?' To other families left sick with worry for their missing children, Vandana says: 'I'd like to say to other mums in my position, there is hope. Don't give up. I never gave up on finding my son, but I was struggling to even get out of bed, because I was so depressed. After looking for him for weeks, I'd hit a wall. I never thought I'd experience this and I don't wish it on my worst enemy. Hopefully I'll never experience it again.' She wants to send other parents of missing children a message of love and support, saying: 'If your child is missing, stay strong, fight for your rights, speak to your MP and speak to the media. Hopefully, like me, you will get them back. Miracles do happen.' The police and hospital were contacted for comment. • The Mirror is using its platform to launch Missed – a campaign to shine a light on underrepresented public-facing missing persons in the UK via a live interactive map, in collaboration with Missing People Charity. Because every missing person, no matter their background or circumstances, is someone's loved one. And they are always Missed.
Hindustan Times
6 days ago
- Hindustan Times
Kate and Gerry McCann: Parents still searching for missing Maddie
Kate and Gerry McCann, parents of toddler Maddie who disappeared in Portugal in 2007, have had their relationship, family and faith tested to the limits, but have never given up hope of seeing their daughter again. The British couple, both doctors, have been in the international limelight since three-year-old Madeleine disappeared on May 3, 2007, from the apartment in the Praia da Luz seaside resort where the family was holidaying. Almost 20 years and many twists later including investigators announcing on Monday a new search at the site of the disappearance Kate and Gerry McCann, 57, are still together, with their two other children, Sean and Amelie. "Whilst we are fortunate in many ways and able to live a relatively normal and enjoyable life now, the 'living in limbo' is still very unsettling. And the absence still aches," Maddie's parents wrote on their website in 2024. "We know the love and hope for Madeleine and the will to find her, even after so many years, remains, and we are truly thankful for that." Kate and Gerry met in Glasgow in 1993 while they were medical interns. They married five years later, and had Madeleine in 2003, followed by twins Sean and Amelie in 2005. On the night of the disappearance, the couple were dining with friends at a restaurant near the apartment. They regularly checked on the children. But at 10:00 pm, they saw Maddie had vanished. After several months of searching and media hype, Portuguese authorities questioned the couple as suspects, believing Maddie died in an accident that her parents covered up with a fake kidnapping story. The couple vehemently denied the accusation, which was widely reported by tabloids. The Portuguese prosecutor announced almost a year later, in 2008, that there was no evidence to support the theory. Kate McCann, a general practitioner, left her job shortly after the disappearance to focus on the search for her daughter and caring for the twins. She returned to work during the pandemic, and now supports patients with dementia. She is also an ambassador for the "Missing People" association. Gerry McCann became a renowned cardiologist and lecturer at the University of Leicester. The book "Madeleine", written by Kate McCann and published in 2011, provided a glimpse into their lives after the disappearance. It revealed the couple still buy Maddie Christmas and birthday presents each year, have a fear of overprotecting their twins and laid bare the toll taken on their private life. "I worried about Gerry and me," she wrote, describing her "inability to permit any pleasure" and being haunted by the fear that her little girl had fallen into the hands of a paedophile. She also recounted how Maddie's disappearance shook the faith of the two practising Catholics. "There have been many times when I've felt God has deserted me or that he has let Madeleine down," she confided. The McCanns still live in the same brick house in Rothley, central England, where they resided at the time of the disappearance. The couple have never relented in their efforts, and successfully lobbied then-prime minister David Cameron to reopen the investigation. But the costly Operation Grange, launched in 2011, failed to uncover the truth. The twins, now 20, grew up "in Madeleine's shadow", a family friend told the Daily Mail, but "are now young adults... carving out their own lives". Amelie studies at Durham University in northern England, while Sean, who is also a freestyle swimming champion, is a student at Loughborough University in central England. In recent years, two women have been charged with harassing the family. One, a Polish woman named Julia Wandel, claimed to be Maddie, who would now be 22. But a DNA test ruled that out. Despite the false leads, Kate and Gerry have not given up, as they write movingly on their website "Find Madeleine". "There is absolutely nothing to suggest that Madeleine has been harmed. Madeleine is still missing and someone needs to be looking for her," they wrote. "She is young and vulnerable and needs our help. We love her dearly and miss her beyond words." cla/jwp/jkb/cms Daily Mail
Daily Mirror
03-06-2025
- Health
- Daily Mirror
Mum of missing boy thanks Mirror for helping find 17-year-old son
Deante James, 17, who went missing on the evening of March 31 from Enfield, North London, has been found alive and it's all thanks to our Missed campaign we're working on with the Missing People charity The mother of a missing teenager who has been found alive has thanked The Mirror after we highlighted his story as part of our Missed campaign. Deante James, 17, went missing on the evening of March 31 from the family home in Enfield, north London, while suffering with psychosis, after unknowingly smoking a joint laced with Spice - a lab-made drug designed to mimic the effects of cannabis.. His mum, Vandana Bhogowoth, who found Deante safe, tells The Mirror: "I'm so happy and relieved, thank God we've found him. When I got the call to say he'd been found I was over the moon - I couldn't stop crying.' 'Thanks so much for everything you've done - it pushed the police and this time his name was entered onto the system correctly. It's great news and he's now getting the help he needs." Deante's life changed a few weeks before he vanished, after he shared a joint with friends, not knowing it was laced with Spice - a drug known to cause side effects ranging from difficulty breathing to psychotic episodes in some users. He developed psychosis and the night he went missing, he ran away without his phone or wallet. Lovingly referring to Deante as 'my boo,' Vandana shared her story with The Mirror's Missed campaign last month, telling us how he he was picked up by British Transport Police three days after going missing for not being able to pay his fare but let go because of an inputting error and fell through the cracks. But, instead of bringing him home and ending Vandana's agony, the police let him go. Vandana, 36, explained at the time: 'He's underage, he's vulnerable and at risk. Police had hold of him and let him go - we could have had him home by now.' It was only after Vandana contacted her MP that Deante's case was changed from medium to high risk - despite being 17 and vulnerable. And it's not just Deante - many missing people are slipping through the cracks, because there's no clear government plan to protect or support them. Now Vandana is determined that other families should not be put through the same agony as she was - meeting with Jess Phillips MP, the parliamentary under-secretary for The Home Office, while Deante was missing to share her experience. And she is backing our Missed campaign, which is calling for a co-ordinated response by services like the police and hospitals in dealing with missing people. Deante's story illustrates the importance of signing our petition calling for a proper government strategy, led by the Home Office, Education, and Health departments, so that missing people and their loved ones get the help they deserve. So far 13, 477 people have signed, but we need 100,000 for it to be debated in Parliament. DEMAND ACTION FOR MISSING PEOPLE Too many missing people are falling through the cracks - harmed while away, and ignored when they return. We need a proper government strategy led by the Home Office, Education, and Health departments to stop this crisis. Right now, there's no real support. People go missing again and again - yet no one's asking why. We're calling for: A new national strategy for missing children and adults Proper support for missing people when they return Investment to stop people going missing in the first place At 10,000 signatures, the government has to respond. At 100,000, it will be debated in Parliament. That's our goal - real action. Susannah Drury, Director of Policy and Development at Missing People, which backs our campaign, says: 'We are incredibly relieved that Deante James has been found safe, after more than a month of being missing and at high risk of harm. "Throughout his time missing, our team has been supporting his mum and simply being there during the most frightening moments of her life. While we share in her relief, we are also deeply concerned about how someone at such high risk could disappear without an urgent response being triggered. 'This case highlights urgent gaps in the system, and it's exactly why our current petition is more important than ever. We need lasting change — not just to prevent young people from falling through the cracks, but to ensure that families like his have the support they need at every stage, both in crisis and beyond. Right now, Deante's family need space and time to begin to process what they've been through, and we will continue to stand beside them as they navigate the days and weeks ahead.' FAMILIES OF THE MISSING Missing people: Facts and Myths Every year, 170,000 people vanish in the UK – that's one person every 90 seconds. Fortunately, most return home within a few days, often without the need for a public appeal. For adults over 18, going missing isn't illegal, but the police will want to ensure their safety. If there are concerns for their welfare, a public appeal might be launched. Importantly, you don't need to wait 24 hours to report someone missing. If their absence is unusual, contact the police immediately. Any child who goes missing will be looked for by police though they are not often given public facing appeals. How the Missing People charity Supports Families Missing People works closely with the police to amplify missing appeals and provide vital support to families. They offer practical help in searches and emotional support to those affected. If you need assistance or want to see your loved one's appeal on the Missed map, call their Helpline on 116 000. It's free, confidential and non-judgemental. They are also there to listen if you are thinking of disappearing or have already left. The Role of Public Appeals Not all missing cases are made public. In situations involving domestic abuse or severe mental health issues, publicity might do more harm than good. That is one reason why you will only see a fraction of missing cases on the Missed map. When sharing appeals, it's crucial to use the official channels from the Missing People website or via the share button on the Missed map. This ensures that once the person is found, all traces of the appeal are removed, respecting their privacy. The Mirror is committed to removing digital footprints of shared appeals, ensuring the missing person's right to be forgotten is upheld. By sharing official appeals, you help protect the privacy and dignity of those who have been found.
Daily Mirror
03-06-2025
- General
- Daily Mirror
Three sisters vanish during planned visitation with homeless dad
Paityn Decker, 9, Evelyn Decker 8, and their younger sibling Olivia Decker vanished after they met their homeless dad Travis on Friday, May 30, with their mum urging people to alert police if they are seen Three young sisters vanished during a planned visitation with their homeless dad, sparking an urgent police search to find them. Police in Washington state have launched a massive search for Paityn Decker, 9, Evelyn Decker 8, and their younger sibling Olivia Decker after they disappeared during a visit with their dad, Travis Decker, 32. The three children were last seen at about 5:30pm on May 30, according to the Wenatchee Police Department (WPD), who operate in the city about 150 miles east of Seattle. The girls' mum, Whitney Decker has since called on the public to help find her daughters. In a Facebook post shared on May 31, Mrs Decker said: "Last night at 8pm Travis was supposed to drop the girls back off with me and never showed. The cops have him going north out of Wenatchee at 5:41. If you could please all keep an eye out for him, his phone is off and every hotel in Wenatchee and East Wenatchee have been checked." FAMILIES OF THE MISSING Missing people: Facts and Myths Every year, 170,000 people vanish in the UK – that's one person every 90 seconds. Fortunately, most return home within a few days, often without the need for a public appeal. For adults over 18, going missing isn't illegal, but the police will want to ensure their safety. If there are concerns for their welfare, a public appeal might be launched. Importantly, you don't need to wait 24 hours to report someone missing. If their absence is unusual, contact the police immediately. Any child who goes missing will be looked for by police though they are not often given public facing appeals. How the Missing People charity Supports Families Missing People works closely with the police to amplify missing appeals and provide vital support to families. They offer practical help in searches and emotional support to those affected. If you need assistance or want to see your loved one's appeal on the Missed map, call their Helpline on 116 000. It's free, confidential and non-judgemental. They are also there to listen if you are thinking of disappearing or have already left. The Role of Public Appeals Not all missing cases are made public. In situations involving domestic abuse or severe mental health issues, publicity might do more harm than good. That is one reason why you will only see a fraction of missing cases on the Missed map. When sharing appeals, it's crucial to use the official channels from the Missing People website or via the share button on the Missed map. This ensures that once the person is found, all traces of the appeal are removed, respecting their privacy. The Mirror is committed to removing digital footprints of shared appeals, ensuring the missing person's right to be forgotten is upheld. By sharing official appeals, you help protect the privacy and dignity of those who have been found. The WPD said Travis is homeless and that his visitation had been agreed upon by both parents. As a result, an alarm was sent in a bid to find the girls. "The father, Travis Decker, is homeless and living in his vehicle or at various hotels/motels or at campgrounds in the area," a WPD spokesperson said in a June 1 Facebook post. "The visitation was part of a parenting plan, but he has since gone outside the parameters of it which is not normal and cause for the alarm. "The current investigation has not met AMBER Alert criteria, but the situation being monitored closely. However, an Endangered Missing Person Alert (EMPA) has been issues through the Washington State Patrol." Paityn is described as being 4ft 8ins, with brown hair, blue eyes and was last seen wearing a blue shirt, purple shorts and pink Nikes. Her sister Evelyn is described as 4ft 4ins, with blonde hair, brown eyes and it is not known what clothes she was last wearing. Their sibling Olivia is described as 4ft 2ins with blonde hair, brown eyes and was last seen wearing a coral/ pink shirt at the time she disappeared. Their dad is described as 5ft 8ins with black hair, brown eyes and was last seen wearing a light-coloured shirt and dark shots. His pickup truck has plates with the number DC0165C, a wanted posted released by police. Anyone who recognises Decker or his daughters is advised to call 911. The Mirror has contacted the WPD for comment via its Facebook page. According to the National Missing and Unidentified Persons Systems, there are 912 open missing persons cases in Wasington state with 1,005 being listed as resolved. • The Mirror is using its platform to launch Missed – a campaign to shine a light on underrepresented public-facing missing persons in the UK via a live interactive map, in collaboration with Missing People Charity. Because every missing person, no matter their background or circumstances, is someone's loved one. And they are always Missed.
