The parents of missing Richard Okorogheye broke down into tears when police told them that ‘we can’t find your son if you can’t’.
On March 22, Evidence Joel and Newton Okorogheye reported their son’s disappearance to the police — two days after he failed to come home.
Richard, 19, has sickle cell disease and has been forced to isolate throughout the pandemic.
Before his disappearance, Richard told his parents he was going to visit a friend.
A week has passed and Richard is still missing, this prompted the police to issue a statement and said that they were ‘becoming increasingly concerned for the teen’s wellbeing.
However, his parents said that it took the police six days before taking the disappearance seriously, despite their son being classified as high risk due to his illness.
“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?’” Evidence Joel, Richard’s mother said. “I was expecting assurance, my son was missing and it broke my heart.”
Evidence Joel explained that the 19-year-old ‘struggling to cope’ with university and isolating throughout the pandemic.
Richard told her he was just going to meet a friend. However, the teen left without his wallet, jacket, and medication.
His mother said that Richard only left his home for regular blood transfusions for his illness.
“All he said to me was, ‘mummy, I’m going to see my friend.’ I trusted him, I had no doubt,” she recalled. “I had no reason to ask further questions.”
Evidence is working as a nurse and said Richard told her he would see her later, so when she returned home from work, she cooked him a meal and expected that his son is just hanging around in his room.
Unfortunately, it wasn’t until a locksmith unlocked Richard’s bedroom when Evidence discovered that he was not there, leaving his wallet and bus pass behind.
Evidence said she fears he may have been exposed too much online while spending so much time alone, adding that she doesn’t believe his son would willingly choose not to come home.
“It’s my baby, it’s my treasure, he’s my oxygen, he’s my crown,” Evidence said, choking in tears. “He’s everything to me, he’s the reason why I live, the reason I exist.”
According to a spokesperson from the Scotland Yard, ‘the investigation into the disappearance of Richard Okorogheye remains ongoing and his family is being supported by a dedicated family liaison officer while all available resources are being utilized in the search.’