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

[Coconutty]

I think now he has been found it’s inevitable it dropped out of the news anyway.

Also my 21 year old son has to have daily medication that isn’t supposed to be taken with alcohol. He still drinks but he gets drunk quicker and spends the whole next day being sick. He said sometimes it’s worth it.

 

[KHA]

Whilst I understand the current wall-to-wall media coverage of the Duke of Edinburgh’s death, it’s unfortunate to say the least that Richard’s death and its investigation has completely dropped off the news agenda.

I’ve felt the same when watching the coverage. It’s more because however sad it is that Prince Phillip has died, I feel like it has made Richard’s death seem less important by taking up every news feed etc. And from my perspective, the tragic circumstances of the death of a 19 year old who seemed to have so much to give is a lot sadder in a wider sense than a man who lived a very long, fulfilling and privileged life dying at 99. But obviously very much MOO.

 

[reservoir_of_rage]

A random thought popped into my head earlier.. remembering something Richards mum said in a interview. She mentioned his hygiene levels had been low and I didn't think much of it at the time or that it was significant. But I found myself wondering did he shower/bath before he went out on the fateful day? May speak to his state of mind if he did/didn't. Also it may lean towards it being more likely that he did meet up with someone if he did shower etc. Like the bag may be a small seemingly insignificant detail.. but these little details all add up. IMO he met up with someone and if he did I really wish the person would come forward..even the uber driver ..just something from anyone who spoke to him that evening that could lend any kind of insight into his state of mind as I still find the likelihood of suicide unlikely.
JMO

 

[Beans]

I’ve felt the same when watching the coverage. It’s more because however sad it is that Prince Phillip has died, I feel like it has made Richard’s death seem less important by taking up every news feed etc. And from my perspective, the tragic circumstances of the death of a 19 year old who seemed to have so much to give is a lot sadder in a wider sense than a man who lived a very long, fulfilling and privileged life dying at 99. But obviously very much MOO.

To be fair DoE’s death has pushed everything out of the news and it’s ridiculous in this day and age. Endless news and weird music. I imagine this is what it must’ve been like watching the Beeb in the late 40s but in colour.

I didn’t know him but I bet he would’ve been mortified.

 

[JuicyLucy]

A random thought popped into my head earlier.. remembering something Richards mum said in a interview. She mentioned his hygiene levels had been low and I didn't think much of it at the time or that it was significant. But I found myself wondering did he shower/bath before he went out on the fateful day? May speak to his state of mind if he did/didn't. Also it may lean towards it being more likely that he did meet up with someone if he did shower etc. Like the bag may be a small seemingly insignificant detail.. but these little details all add up. IMO he met up with someone and if he did I really wish the person would come forward..even the uber driver ..just something from anyone who spoke to him that evening that could lend any kind of insight into his state of mind as I still find the likelihood of suicide unlikely.
JMO

BBM

The police did trace and speak to the taxi/Uber driver. Afaik, the content of what was said wasn't made public but presumably they learned from that how the booking was made and paid for, the pick up point, whether there was someone else with Richard when he was picked up, the terms in which the destination was asked for/described. Perhaps there was also some conversation en route or on arrival and if so perhaps they learned something about his state of mind from it. Perhaps that was what informed the search of the forest. If it was an Uber, it may have had CCTV itself, so perhaps there's even a recording of the whole journey, but nothing of that sort has been made public.

<modsnip: Removed social media rumor>

Regarding Richard's disappearance from headline news, I would say that's an entirely natural consequence of his discovery and the reduced urgency of the investigation. The 24-hour news cycle is a cruel and fickle thing, but Richard's family got good use out of it. I doubt he would have been found and identified anywhere near so quickly if the MSM hadn't pushed the investigative agenda, by which time CCTV and other evidence would have been unavailable and some (more) questions unanswered forever. I'm sure if there's any development in his case it will be reported, if only the inquest in due course.

jmo

 

[Mollie123]

There was a period of time between RO going missing and when he was found.
I am struggling with the idea any suspected sightings within that period were never reported in MSM.
I feel heartbroken to think he could have been found sooner if any supposed sightings were followed up thoroughly.
Jmo.

 

[dotr]

Lengthy article in which a number of other mpers. are referenced, going to have a peek to see if we have threads for them.
April 11 2021 rbbm.
Why a year of lockdown has made searching for the missing so hard

Richard Okorogheye, 19, whose body was found in Epping Forest. Photograph: Family Handout/PA

''Tens of thousands of people have gone missing in the UK since the start of the pandemic. Most are found within days, sometimes hours. Others, like Nghia, have seemingly disappeared into thin air.
Searching for people in lockdown has presented formidable challenges to investigators. There are likely to be fewer witnesses, fewer public transport routes to scrutinise, and inquiries must be made remotely as attempts are launched to follow the faintest of electronic footprints.

Private investigators say they have been inundated after being asked to track and find thousands of missing people over the last year. One group, though, has tended to dominate their efforts: young men, often with mental health issues.

Tony Smith, operations director of Insight Investigations, said that his team of private detectives received about 16 missing person calls a day and, of these, the majority concerned young men who were struggling.

“We’ve had a dramatic increase in calls relating to males going missing, mainly young males who are having various breakdown problems. Students, particularly, have just disappeared,” he said.

Most men are swiftly traced to friends or trusted family members. Smith had just two cases where he couldn’t locate the missing man. One had taken his own life on the morning he was reported missing.

News of the scale of the issue follows the death of Richard Okorogheye whose body was found in a lake in Epping Forest last Monday, two weeks after he went missing.

Private investigator Paul Hawkes, who worked on the inquiry to find Okorogheye, said the 19-year-old had started to become introverted shortly before going missing, locking himself in his west London bedro om. Even so, Hawkes didn’t predict the tragic outcome.

“I was working totally and wholly on the premise he was alive. I had hope. It hit me quite hard when I heard the news from his mother. These cases are so rare,” said Hawkes, whose agency Research Associates specialises in finding “the disappeared”.
ETA
Ws thread started..
UK - UK- Michael Hamza, 35, Waltham Forest in east London, 24 December 2020

 

[Cuko]

Latest article from the Independent but little if any new information.

Richard Okorogheye: Mother ‘disappointed’ by police when reporting son missing — The Independent

 

[Puzzles]

It's so difficult for me to let go of my belief this beautiful young man didn't chose to end his life.

It's so difficult to let go of him at all.

 

[KHA]

It's so difficult for me to let go of my belief this beautiful young man didn't chose to end his life.

It's so difficult to let go of him at all.

I think the whole thing has been really difficult for a lot of people. Which I hope is at least a comfort for his mother and father. I think about him multiple times a day.

 

[dotr]

Richard Okorogheye: £45,000 raised in three days for tragic student
''More than £45,000 has been raised in three days in honour of Richard Okorogheye.''

“God bless your soul Richard. We have heard nothing but lovely and good things about you, we know you left this world way too young, but your presence will continue to live on through your family & friends.”

''Part of the money raised will go towards creating a foundation for those with sickle cell disease and young people struggling with mental health.

Speaking to the PA news agency, Ms Joel said: “There has to be awareness and for it to be treated as a serious disease.''

“If we can use Richard’s name to bring more awareness then so be it.

 

[Beans]

What a lovely way to honour him. I hope working on the foundation project helps his family even in some small way.

 

[halfbrilliant]

It's so confusing for me. Recently my mental health has also been on a seemingly irreversible decline and I had plans to go "missing" etc in a similar way to Richard. Then Richard went missing and it was like watching a disaster unfold in the mirror, somehow. I feel so much for his mother and all those who loved him. And everyone here who has felt the loss. One thing is clear to me and that's Websleuths is a great community of people. So I thank you all for that.

 

[Jenesaisquoi]

halfbrilliant, please don’t ever go missing. I have been up at 3am, trawling the internet for clues on people I don’t know. There is help out there, and every one of us people is important.

 

[halfbrilliant]

Let's just say I feel a curious mixture of shock and yet sad inevitability with every consecutive suicide I hear about.

Spoiler: This is just OT drivel about me so I'm hiding it and will find another thread for future drivelings

Thank you, je ne sais quoi (cool name btw). Yes, there is help out there, but if you don't actually pose an immediate danger to yourself or others, you get funnelled into the waiting list - which I have been on for 2 years this time round, becoming ever more desperate in the mean time. It was 2008 when I first asked for help, 2012 when I first accepted medication... I have been assessed but have not had even half an hour of actual therapy yet. Just endless reeling-off of what I think is wrong with me to one overworked stranger to the next. It has been made longer by my attempts to sort my life out by acquiring different jobs and moving to different places, but the last 2 years has been me staying in one place dutifully waiting for the actual therapy I need to begin. I last attempted to end it all in 2017, that was my second real attempt, but the next time will not leave any margin for failure. I know this is the wrong place for it but I'm so bloody lonely and isolated, so if anyone wants to make friends feel free to PM me; big love and compassion to everyone struggling with similar (and dissimilar) issues.

 

[Jenesaisquoi]

Hb, stick around on Richard’s thread.

 

[Jenesaisquoi]

Thinking of leaving - Missing People

Linking this in for reference for hb. Also for us to review in case it prompts any thoughts for Richard’s mindset prior to his disappearance.

 

[MsMiniSleuth]

Richard Okorogheye: Cause of death still unknown week after body found

'Further tests' are taking place to ascertain cause of death.

The cause of death of student Richard Okorogheye, 19, who was found dead in an Epping Forest last week is still a mystery.

The Metropolitan Police said an initial post-mortem of the Ladbroke Grove resident was 'inconclusive' and further tests are underway to 'ascertain the cause of death'.

A spokesperson from the Met Police said inconclusive post-mortems are normal, and further tests conducted could take a 'few weeks' before a confirmed cause of death can be revealed.

Richard Okorogheye's cause of death still unknown week after body found

 

[MsMiniSleuth]

East London & West Essex Guardian


'With you, questioning, grieving'

A poem written in tribute to Richard Okorogheye

Richard - you were with us for a while,

We who live by the forest edge,

But we did not know

As you walked into the forest,

So welcoming by day, but fearsome by night.

If we had met you on your walk

Would we have spoken, heard what was on your mind.

Could words have turned you back?

Evidence - mothers of troubled sons

With you, questioning, grieving.

Name and address supplied

 

[deesleuth]

My first time commenting here. Hi All!!

I have been following the comments on this thread and I have found the whole situation tragic. I came across this article on Oxford Brookes website that I wanted to share.

Remembering Richard Okorogheye - Oxford Brookes University

Also I read that Richard mother will be setting up a foundation to recognise Mental Health issues she commented that these issues should be taken seriously. Which made me think that the death must have been in relation to his Mental Health problems. Is she confirming that his death was a suicide possibly because he was feeling down??