Body found in search for missing student Richard Okorogheye

5 April 2021, 19:26 | Updated: 6 April 2021, 20:05

Body found in Epping Forest in search for Richard Okorogheye

Nick Hardinges

By Nick Hardinges

A body has been found in a pond in Epping Forest during the search for missing student Richard Okorogheye, police have said.

Officers looking for the missing 19-year-old west London student said the body of a man has been found by Essex Police.

Scotland Yard said enquiries are under way to identify the body.

Mr Okorogheye's family are being supported by specially trained officers and being kept up to date with developments.

Police remain at the scene and enquiries into his disappearance continue.

Body found in Epping Forest in search for missing Richard Okorogheye

A statement released by the Met said: "On the afternoon of Monday 5 April, the Met was informed by colleagues from Essex Police that the body of a man had been found in a pond in Epping Forest.

Read more: Police divers deployed in search for missing 19-year-old student

Read more: Missing student's mother says every day is a 'nightmare'

Police divers have been searching in Epping Forest while investigating the disappearance of Richard Okorogheye
Police divers have been searching in Epping Forest while investigating the disappearance of Richard Okorogheye. Picture: Okorogheye Family Handout

"Enquiries are under way to identify the body.

"Detectives investigating the disappearance of 19-year-old Richard Okorogheye are aware. Richard's family are being supported by specially- trained officers and kept updated with developments.

"Officers remain at the scene and enquiries continue."

Mr Okorogheye, who has sickle cell disease, left his family home in the Ladbroke Grove area of west London on the evening of Monday 22 March and was reported missing two days later.

He was last seen on CCTV in Loughton, Essex, in the early hours of Tuesday 23 March, walking towards Epping Forest.

Police divers had previously been seen in a body of water in the woodland.

Read more: 'No activity' on missing student Richard Okorogheye's phone

Read more: Police carry out searches in Essex after student’s disappearance

Police release CCTV of missing Richard Okorogheye

Initial police enquiries identified Mr Okorogheye leaving his home address and heading in the direction of Ladbroke Grove at around 8:30pm.

CCTV footage shows he was wearing all black and had a black satchel bag with a white Adidas logo, worn across his lower back.

Police said further inquiries have established that he then took a taxi journey from the W2 area of London to a residential street in Loughton.

He was captured on CCTV walking alone on Smarts Lane, Loughton, towards Epping Forest at 12:39am on Tuesday 23 March.

The Met Police previously said Mr Okorogheye's phone has not been in use since his disappearance.

Police carry out searches in Epping forest after cctv showed missing 19 year old Richard Okorogheye getting out of a taxi

Speaking to The Guardian, the 19-year-old's mother, Evidence Joel, said waiting for information on her son's whereabouts has been "hell".

She told the paper: "Every day is a nightmare for me now.

"I feel completely helpless. Helpless, and also, sorry to use this word, but I feel useless. Because I want to go out there, to do something to look for him, search for him, anything."

Ms Joel previously said that her son had spoken of "struggling to cope" with university pressures and had been shielding during the Covid-19 lockdown.

As someone with sickle cell disease, Mr Okorogheye would only leave the house to go to hospital for regular blood transfusions for his condition.

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Anthony Scaramucci said the row between Trump and Labour would blow over

'Anglophile' Trump's row with Starmer will have 'no impact' on wider relations with UK, Anthony Scaramucci says

Nick Ferrari attends his first Trump rally in Pennsylvania as he meets the crowd in 'the poorest city in the United States'

Nick Ferrari attends his first Trump rally in Pennsylvania as he meets the crowd in 'the poorest city in the United States'

Exclusive
Nick Ferrari bumps into Nigel Farage in Pennsylvania as he reflects on Trump's "remarkable" foreign policy achievements

Nick Ferrari bumps into Nigel Farage in Pennsylvania as he reflects on Trump's 'near-death' experience

Live
US Presidential Election 2024 LIVE: Millions of Americans head to the polls as election day arrives

US Presidential Election 2024 LIVE: Millions of Americans head to the polls in the final race for the White House

Proud Boys claim they will go to voting places as Trump repeats election fraud lies.

Proud Boys making plans to mobilise as Trump repeats election fraud lies

File photo of a real NHS dentist

Desperate Brits fall for scam 'fake NHS dentists' amid years-long waits for appointments

The Kremlin is suspected of plotting the attack

'Parcel bombs' that blew up in warehouse were 'rehearsal' for Russian explosion attack on flight to US

Keir Starmer is not set to ban smoking in pub gardens, contrary to earlier reports

Cigarettes will not be banned in pub gardens under new Labour plan create 'smoke-free generation'

Former President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally in Reading, Pennsylvania

Trump threatens Mexico with 100% tariffs unless it cracks down on border crossings

Bridget Phillipson told Tonight with Andrew Marr that the fee hike was necessary to secure the future of universities.

‘Universities must reform’ says education secretary after first hike in tuition fees in 8 years

Two more cases of a new strain of mpox have been detected in the UK, officials say

Two more cases of new mpox strain detected in UK

Anya Taylor-Joy and her musician husband were the victims of a terrifying robbery

Anya Taylor-Joy and musician husband victims of burglary at London mansion

Exclusive
Nigel Farage speaking to LBC's Nick Ferrari about new Tory leader Kemi Badenoch

'The Remainers are back in town': Nigel Farage says Kemi Badenoch will bring 'no change whatsoever' to Tories

Amy Dowden

Strictly Come Dancing star Amy Dowden will not return to show this year following 'medical emergency'

Scott Paterson murdered his landlady Annette Smith

Tenant murdered and dismembered elderly landlady before posing as her by sending Christmas cards to family

Robert Jenrick, Priti Patel and Mel Stride will all serve in Kemi Badenoch's Shadow Cabinet

Kemi Badenoch names former leadership rivals Robert Jenrick and Priti Patel to Tory Shadow Cabinet team