HOMICIDE cops are leading the hunt for missing Brit student Ben Ross after he sent a worrying email to his mum.
The 26-year-old disappeared more than a week ago in Palma, Majorca, sparking a desperate bid to find him.
The trainee barrister, from Wigan, Greater Manchester, had his phone and wallet stolen at a beach and then fell out with his flatmates shortly before he was last seen or heard from.
Ben’s mum Felix Robinson has now admitted she is “petrified” after her son vanished on July 10.
Before going missing, the 26-year-old had sent a worrying email indicating his mental health had declined, the mum added.
Felix, who is planning to fly to Majorca in a desperate bid to find her beloved son, has claimed Palma cops are under the impression Ben’s case isn’t a police issue because he is an adult seeking time alone on the island.
But National Police in Palma insisted today in their first comments on the case they were looking for the missing Brit.
They said a Homicide Unit had been put in charge of the search.
Such units are usually the ones that deal with missing people cases in Spain, sources explained.
A spokesman for the National Police in Majorca said: “We are aware of this disappearance and work is being done to try to locate this man.
“That’s all we can say at this present time.”
A well-placed source said: “The force’s Homicide Unit has been placed in charge of this. This unit also investigates adult disappearances among other things so it’s standard practice for these specialist officers to be given the responsibility of getting to the bottom of things like this.”
Another added: “People shouldn’t necessarily jump to any conclusions about there being evidence at this stage pointing to this man’s disappearance being crime-related.
“But of course it’s an option that can’t be ruled out while investigators don’t know what’s happened to this person.
“His family can rest assured this case is being taken seriously and the right people for the job are involved in looking into it.”
A flatmate row and a beach robbery are so far the main puzzle pieces behind Ben’s Ross disappearance in the Spanish paradise island.
The young barrister had flown to Majorca to visit a pal but decided to stay a bit longer to unwind from the hustle and bustle of his law studies.
Ben appeared to be enjoying the move after finding a flat.
His post on June 24 saw a snap from Majorca with the caption “grateful”.
But his Spanish retreat soon turned sour as mum Felix claimed he was robbed on the beach on July 6, losing his phone, wallet, keys and iPad.
He reported the theft to police, but by the time he was done it was late at night and without the aid of navigation on his phone, he became lost.
Ben arrived home so late that his flatmates didn’t answer the door, so he decided to break in – leading to a row.
Cops were allegedly called to the flat but decided Ben had no criminal case to answer because he’d offered to pay for damage he inflicted forcing his way in.
Felix says his flatmates then made clear their intentions to kick him out.
She received a “peculiar” email from Ben before going missing, in which indicated his mental health had declined.
Ben Ross has not been heard from since July 10.
On Wednesday, Felix told The Sun these events likely made Ben want to isolate himself, with her son struggling with his mental health in previous years.
Ben is known as a spiritual lad who takes in inspiration from churches, books and historical monuments, so it’s hoped he could be finding solace in such areas.
But given he has no phone and no money, Felix is fearing the worst – particularly following the finding of Jay Slater’s body in Tenerife just days ago.
Felix plans to rush down to Majorca to start a search herself.
The mum’s plans so far have been stalled as she currently does not have a passport, but says she is pleading with the Home Office for emergency travel papers on compassionate grounds.
She’s found support from LBT Global – the charity that has supported Jay Slater’s family in Tenerife.
A GoFundMe has been established by Felix’s friend Carla, who is desperately trying to raise awareness of the case.
