Mum’s appeal to find Oxford University student, 19, missing for a week after telling her he’s ‘struggling to cope’
A MUM has issued a desperate appeal to find her Oxford University student son after he vanished a week ago.
Richard Okorogheye, 19, told his mum he was “struggling to cope” with lockdown and had been shielding due to a sickle cell disease.
The teen said he was going out on March 22 and was last seen walking in Kensington, West London, at around 8.40pm.
Mum Evidence Joel is now appealing for information to find her son – with police saying they are “increasingly concerned”.
She told MyLondon: “Richard has never done anything like this. Something has gone wrong.
“The only thing he said to said he’s going to his friend’s house. He told me drive safe and that he would see me later.”
‘MY ONLY BABY’
The mum returned home from a nursing shift at around 9pm and assumed her son was in his room.
It was only when she knocked on his door after cooking his favourite dinner that she realised something was wrong.
After a locksmith helped her gain entry to the bedroom, she found Richard missing with his wallet, bus pass and bank card left behind.
She now mum fears her student son had become depressed during lockdown as he only left the house for regular blood transfusions at hospital.
None of Richard’s friends saw him that night or any night since he disappeared.
Evidence said: “I want to save my baby. He’s my only baby, he suffers from sickle cell. My son would never behave like this.”
SEARCH FOR RICHARD
The Met say Richard left his home and headed towards the Ladbroke Grove area at around 8.30pm on March 22.
He is known to frequent the Westminster and Hammersmith and Fulham areas.
Chief Inspector Clare McCarthy of the Met’s Central West Command Unit said: “Our officers have been working tirelessly to locate Richard, using all investigative opportunities and data enquires, speaking with witnesses and trawling CCTV.
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“We are following every lead possible and are appealing for the public to help us in our work. If you may have seen Richard, please contact police.
“If Richard is safe and well, we ask him to contact us as a matter of urgency so that we can put his family’s minds at ease.”
Anyone with information can call police on 101 quoting 21MIS008134 or visit charity Missing People at https://www.missingpeople.org.uk/