Found Deceased UK - Anthony Knott, 33, last seen at a pub in Lewes, Sussex, 20 Dec 2019 #2

[Tortoise]

Going south(up) market street he was about 20 seconds from the high street and war memorial. Barclays, betting shop and others would have cctv. Can't see where he went

Barclays has a camera but that's on the other side/corner of Market Street to the one on which he was approaching and it's trained on the cash machine just next to it.

Looking on google maps street view I can't see a camera outside the betting shop.

I think it's possible he has either crossed over at the memorial and gone down St Nicholas Lane, in a more or less straight line over from Market Street, or he has got into a car just around the corner of Market Street on the High Street. There is a loading bay there which would allow a car to be there without being parked on the double yellow lines. I know it seems unlikely, but he could have been looking for a taxi, or asked a driver for directions somewhere and they've said they will take him. Otherwise I think he would have been picked up on a camera somewhere further down the High Street.

 

[Tortoise]

Have I picked this up correctly? The phone is switched off around 7pm (battery doesn’t die) and then again around 1am?

if that’s the case, it sounds like he has had an argument with someone and doesn’t want them contacting him. Maybe Anthony had no notion of making his way back home after that phone call? If that’s the case, could he have headed in a completely different direction at the end of the night?

Fiancee of missing firefighter begs him to come home as she recalls final words

No, the 1am switch off is incorrect information some media has, and his fiancee has corrected it. It went off a couple of minutes after he left the pub and hasn't been back on since.

 

[motherofdaughters]

It is important, though.

If he turned his phone off, that sheds a whole new light on his disappearance rather than if his battery died.

No-one has said how old his phone was, but I believe he worked as an electrician before joining the FB, so you safely say he was reliant on his phone & probably updated them every two years once his contract was up. He must have needed it both as an electrician when he was out on jobs, and as a firefighter too - unless they provide firefighters with work phones, in which case he’d have had two. Whatever, I don’t think he or anyone would keep a phone that only had a battery life of about 7 hours...and it drained after making just one text, receiving a short call, and looking at data for 3 minutes. For all anyone knows it could have been a new phone. And I don’t think many people going 50 miles for a work do would leave home with a rundown battery...everyone relies so much on their phones now, so I suspect he’d have made sure his battery was full.

But if his battery did die and he was, say, lost amongst the streets, all he had to do was go into the pub and ask the bar staff if anyone had a charger to put some charge on their phone. You can almost guarantee they have a charger behind the bar.

I believe his fiancé posted a picture of it but I’ve not seen it.

also yes, I agree it is important but we don’t know. We’re not going to know, it’s either not known by Le or they don’t feel it’s important info to share.

 

[motherofdaughters]

It is important, though.

If he turned his phone off, that sheds a whole new light on his disappearance rather than if his battery died.

No-one has said how old his phone was, but I believe he worked as an electrician before joining the FB, so you safely say he was reliant on his phone & probably updated them every two years once his contract was up. He must have needed it both as an electrician when he was out on jobs, and as a firefighter too - unless they provide firefighters with work phones, in which case he’d have had two. Whatever, I don’t think he or anyone would keep a phone that only had a battery life of about 7 hours...and it drained after making just one text, receiving a short call, and looking at data for 3 minutes. For all anyone knows it could have been a new phone. And I don’t think many people going 50 miles for a work do would leave home with a rundown battery...everyone relies so much on their phones now, so I suspect he’d have made sure his battery was full.

But if his battery did die and he was, say, lost amongst the streets, all he had to do was go into the pub and ask the bar staff if anyone had a charger to put some charge on their phone. You can almost guarantee they have a charger behind the bar.

I believe his fiancé posted a picture of it but I’ve not seen it.

also yes, I agree it is important but we don’t know. We’re not going to know, it’s either not known by Le or they don’t feel it’s important info to share.

 

[Tortoise]

Something else I wondered is if all these timings (phone and cctvs) have been synced. I wondered if the phone could have gone off exactly as he stepped outside the Lamb, and not two minutes after he passed the E&C, when we see him rubbing his hands together and his phone must be in his pocket. He could have taken it out of his pocket after he passed the E&C though.

If he did switch it off I think the most likely explanation is he wanted to be unreachable because he wasn't intending on going back. He stood a fairly high chance of bumping into his mates again though as he came back past E&C, although he might have known there wasn't much chance of that if they hadn't been there all that long or had just ordered a new round when he left. I wonder what time they all got to the Lamb.

 

[Alyce]

If AK was giving directions then you would assume he had some local knowledge or could find his way back.

That phone call was made/taken when he was at The Lansdown.
If the person he was talking with was arriving ( or had arrived ) by train - quite likely as they were all planning on drinking - then AK would not have needed any local knowledge of Lewes to be able to give directions. From the station, it's just turn right and walk up to the next junction.

If however the person was driving or being dropped off by a friend, then I agree, some local knowledge would be useful.

 

[Alyce]

I think the only accurate timing we have from cctv is;
Arrival Lansdown 16.02. hrs
Depart Lansdown 17.20 hrs

Allow another hour or so at The Royal Oak 17.25 - 18.30

Then up to the Lamb 18.40 to 19.40/50 hrs

Then a walk up to the E&C for the final hour 20.00 to 21.00 hrs
basing this timing on comments - not official - that said they were at the E&C from * about* 20 00 hrs.

There have been some comments ( also not officially confirmed ) of the group having been seen making their way to the train station circa 21.00 - 22.00 hrs that evening ( wide time range I know ).

Based on my time guesses above - if they had been at the Lamb for about 30 minutes when AK departed, likely they would, as Tortoise says, have been getting in another round before heading to the E&C.
Even so, I still think AK took a bit of a risk ( if he really wanted to avoid seeing them ) by walking back past the E&C at 19.37 hrs. There was a slight chance that one or two of them might have finished up their drinks already at the Lamb ( perhaps didn't have a second round drink ) and had decided to walk up to the E&C ahead of the others.

 

[Ruthbullock]

Has anyone seen it categorically stated he didn’t go in the E&C in that 20 minutes. He could have easily entered out of CCTV view via the beer garden. Whilst he possibly didn’t, he possibly did and could have just stood having a cigarette in the beer garden, not actually going inside, and then left when no one appeared. It’s one of the things that I wish they would state as he may not have been wandering, or as I have also seen suggested there is a bench just out of view of the CCTV that he could have been sat on.

 

[Tortoise]

I suppose we don't even know if AK knew they were going to the E&C next.

 

[motherofdaughters]

It is important, though.

If he turned his phone off, that sheds a whole new light on his disappearance rather than if his battery died.

No-one has said how old his phone was, but I believe he worked as an electrician before joining the FB, so you safely say he was reliant on his phone & probably updated them every two years once his contract was up. He must have needed it both as an electrician when he was out on jobs, and as a firefighter too - unless they provide firefighters with work phones, in which case he’d have had two. Whatever, I don’t think he or anyone would keep a phone that only had a battery life of about 7 hours...and it drained after making just one text, receiving a short call, and looking at data for 3 minutes. For all anyone knows it could have been a new phone. And I don’t think many people going 50 miles for a work do would leave home with a rundown battery...everyone relies so much on their phones now, so I suspect he’d have made sure his battery was full.

But if his battery did die and he was, say, lost amongst the streets, all he had to do was go into the pub and ask the bar staff if anyone had a charger to put some charge on their phone. You can almost guarantee they have a charger behind the bar.

Yes, sorry, it’s important to a degree, i more meant based on what we DO know. Even if he did turn it off there could have been a multitude if legitimate reasons why.

How long after AK left the pub did his friends leave to the next one?
I’d have thought if he did want extra ciggies he’d have picked them up when they all left so I’m not convinced he left for that.

Did the person he called/received a call from to let them know where the group was arrive before or after AK left? He possibly went looking for him?
if he did it may explain why the group haven’t gone live to the media, they possibly feel guilty? They sent him to find that friend?
Or maybe one of the group asked him to go and get something for them. Cash? Food?
AK could have been the soberest one?
At the minute, depending on if we know when the caller/receiver arrived, I’m
Leaning towards looking for them.

MOO, as it rambled from my head.

 

[motherofdaughters]

I think the only thing we can be sure of is there’s a lot of unreleased info.
They’ve called off the search and it’s gone quiet.
What ever that means, I think there’s intel and FAR more is known than we’ll, rightly, be privy to.

also be interested to know if the timings have been checked and calibrated on all the CCTV we’ve been shown.

 

[Ruthbullock]

I think the only thing we can be sure of is there’s a lot of unreleased info.
They’ve called off the search and it’s gone quiet.
What ever that means, I think there’s intel and FAR more is known than we’ll, rightly, be privy to.

also be interested to know if the timings have been checked and calibrated on all the CCTV we’ve been shown.

I think the CCTV timings have been checked- the E&C was originally stated it was 7.17, but was updated to 7.19

 

[SOMETHINGWILLDO]

I agree. I just hope this doesn’t end up another Corrie Mckeague case where how Anthony was and the circumstances of him leaving become vitally important in it all. Unless he appears in the water shortly I fear it’s Corrie part two & info such as having a fall out with his partner, being depressed etc become important in the guessing game as to where he might of went or his intentions. But we’ll see.

 

[MingyMoo]

I think the only thing we can be sure of is there’s a lot of unreleased info.
They’ve called off the search and it’s gone quiet.
What ever that means, I think there’s intel and FAR more is known than we’ll, rightly, be privy to.

Please Note This A Personal Opinion Only and purley an alternative thought.

I was unsure if I should post or not. I agree 100% @motherofdaughters post above. I have quietly followed this case.

In most cases where police have located a missing adult who does not want to return home or have their families informed of their whereabouts, the police will record the missing persons wishes and then inform the family that the person has been spoken. Generally, they will not disclose the location and circumstances of the contact with the family, respecting the missing persons wishes. This can be hugely frustrating for relatives and friends of the missing person.

Souce Missing Adults – the law | Safeguarding Hub

We the general public do not know Why Police called off the search they obviously know something we don't. It may just be AK left of his own accord for reasons only known to him and, does not currently want to be found and does not or can't face his Family/Children/Fiance/Friends.

My hope is he will be found alive and well and that his nearest and dearest will have some sort of answer.

This is purely an alternative thought nothing more

As Always
MingyMoo

 

[Elainera]

I remember reading on another case here at WS that the service provider can tell whether a phone was switched off deliberately or died because of low charge. Sorry I can't remember where I read it nor do I have a link. If true LE and family likely know the circumstances around the phone. Given that searches have stopped my assumption is that AK switched it off himself and LE assumes he doesn't want to be found. Moo. Speculation.

 

[TranquilityBase]

First time poster; I've read all of your comments and thoughts with interest so felt like chipping in on a couple of things I feel differently about:

Smokes - as an ex-smoker I never pre-bought an evenings supply (doesnt mean AK would be the same). As long as I had enough to get me through the majority of the eve, that was enough. Would go out and buy more if needed . Bear in mind this was an all day thing, from my view highly unlikely he would have made sure he had enough to last the whole day.

Hook-up - seen some comments that it is unlikely he would be meeting someone in a place he doesn't know. To me I think it's exactly the place and time for a chance rendezvous via an app, nobody to recognise you, no worries about anybody knowing. This goes for comments about nothing to suggest he is Gay/Bi, sure, but men tend to think differently after a few drinks down them and it might be something that clearly his fiance knows nothing about, regardless of the gender of the other person .

Anxious/serious look - I feel like a lot of emphasis is being put on a few stills and CCTV captures about his state of mind. It's easy to fit these around what theories we already had. It would be interesting for you to be filmed in the same way and read what strangers read into your mannerisms.


That wasn't meant to chastise any comments, just my views. I don't really know what to think, but my feelings point to a redevouz off the beaten track which ended badly . Not necessarily sinister, but poss into water.

 

[Miss_French]

We the general public do not know Why Police called off the search they obviously know something we don't.

Yes, we do know. The police say that AK remains a 'high risk missing person' and they are continuing investigations, but they 'have called off any further searches for now as all areas have been covered three times over.’

https://metro-co-uk.cdn.ampproject....n-firefighter-disappeared-going-pub-11985262/

 

[Sarahlou]

Yes, we do know. The police say that AK remains a 'high risk missing person' and they are continuing investigations, but they 'have called off any further searches for now as all areas have been covered three times over.’

https://metro-co-uk.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/metro.co.uk/2020/01/01/search-called-off-london-firefighter-disappeared-going-pub-11985262/amp/?usqp=mq331AQNKAGYAYvylKrQkNmxPA==&amp_js_v=a2&amp_gsa=1#referrer=https://www.google.com&ampshare=https://metro.co.uk/2020/01/01/search-called-off-london-firefighter-disappeared-going-pub-11985262/

Yes there's only so many times they can search the same areas, it doesn't mean they have stopped investigating the case.

 

[Wowno17]

For me I feel the phone was turned off by Anthony to save the battery for when he was getting home later.

I think he did go out to buy cigarettes.
I too am a smoker and I agree with @TranquilityBase, I also go out with my cigarettes and don't take 'extra packs' even on a night out. I would just buy some wherever I was.

You also do get asked ALOT for a cigarette from people when in pubs in the UK So makes sense he ran out.

MOO is he accidentally went into water somehow.

IF he has gone voluntarily missing and police are now aware and have made contact with him, then why would his fiancee keep up the desperate search?

Very sad case indeed and my prayers are with his family.

 

[Ruthbullock]

For me I feel the phone was turned off by Anthony to save the battery for when he was getting home later.

I think he did go out to buy cigarettes.
I too am a smoker and I agree with @TranquilityBase, I also go out with my cigarettes and don't take 'extra packs' even on a night out. I would just buy some wherever I was.

You also do get asked ALOT for a cigarette from people when in pubs in the UK So makes sense he ran out.

MOO is he accidentally went into water somehow.

IF he has gone voluntarily missing and police are now aware and have made contact with him, then why would his fiancee keep up the desperate search?

Very sad case indeed and my prayers are with his family.

BBM- please do not take this as victim bashing, it is not at all meant in that way-
But thinking of missing people where I live and we have a lot, often found in the water, and some like Claudia who are still missing. There doesn’t seem the same desperate search that other families undertake. In fact since the searches stopped the only thing we have actively seen is a release of more photos some photoshopped to add more facial hair and a just giving page to hire a private detective. No push to keep it in the papers, no public appeals for witnesses or more information if you were in the area. To me it seems incredibly quiet. Fingers crossed there is a glimmer of hope he has just taken some time out and the quietness isn’t because they feel there is nothing more they can do.