Mum of missing vulnerable teen says police told her 'if you can't find him how can we?'

The mum of a missing teenager claims police told her 'if you can't find your son, how do you expect police officers to find your son for you?'.

Richard Okorogheye, 19, who suffers from sickle cell disease, disappeared from the family home in Ladbroke Grove, London, at around 8.30pm on March 22.

His family reported him missing two days later and his mum Evidence Joel yesterday broke down in tears as she made a heartfelt appeal on Sky News.

Speaking to a reporter, she said: "He's everything to me... he's the reason why I live."

The mother-of-one also told the broadcaster she was heartbroken after a police officer allegedly asked her how she expected them to find her son when she as his mother could not.

She said: "I told a police officer that my son was missing, please help me find him, and she said 'if you can't find your son, how do you expect police officers to find your son for you?

"I was expecting assurance. My son was missing and it broke my heart."

The devastated mum believes her son, who had been carrying out his university studies remotely, may have been groomed online and could be currently held against his will.

During the pandemic, Richard had been shielding due to his health condition, which requires him to have monthly blood transfusions.

Ms Joel said her son was 'struggling to cope' before he vanished, sparking fears he could have been struggling with depression.

The Met Police said relatives of missing people should be treated with 'respect and dignity' in response to Ms Joel's claim that an officer asked her 'how do you expect police officers to find your son for you?'

A spokesman for the force told The Mirror: "The Metropolitan Police Service is committed to providing the best possible service to families of missing people, ensuring that they are supported by specialist officers and informed of investigative updates as soon as possible.

"Family members should always be treated with respect and dignity by officers, and have confidence that officers will make every effort to investigate the circumstances of the disappearance with a matter of urgency.

"The investigation into the disappearance of Richard Okorogheye remains ongoing - his family are being supported by a dedicated Family Liaison Officer while all available resources are being utilised in the search."

When asked by The Mirror if the force had apologised to Ms Joel over the officer's alleged question, they referred us to the above statement.