United Kingdom OWEN HARDING: Missing from Saltdean, Sussex, England - 26 March 2020 - Age 16

Coronavirus: Missing Owen Harding 'on 280-mile trek to girlfriend'

Owen Harding's mother said the situation is now "an emergency" and asked UK walkers to look for him.

www.bbc.com

Coronavirus: Missing Owen Harding 'on 280-mile trek to girlfriend'

A teenager missing for six days may have tried to walk 280 miles to see his girlfriend, his mother has said.

Owen Harding, 16, was last seen leaving his home in Saltdean, Sussex, last Thursday.

His mum Stella said he had been upset at being unable to get a train to visit girlfriend Meg in Pocklington, near York, amid the coronavirus lockdown.

She said relatives were desperately worried and urged the public to be on the lookout for Owen.

In an earlier appeal over her son's disappearance - shared by family friend Nadia Sawalha - Ms Harding said he had left home to watch the sunset.

Some of Owen's friends have since said they believe he has attempted to walk from Saltdean to the North, Ms Harding said.

"While it is extremely out of character for Owen to leave and not be in contact, Covid-19 has put everyone under lots of strain and we don't want to rule anything out," she said.

"Because search activity and resources are limited right now, I'm begging the UK public to look out for him whilst out on their daily walks.




Media - https://www.crimewatchers.net/media...did-the-teen-leave-to-see-his-girlfriend.385/

 

[GrandmaBear]

Just happened to see his face in the picture line up. Wondered if there had been any further news. So sad.

 

[Kimster]

I'm glad you bumped this post. This case is such a mystery!

 

[GrandmaBear]

I'm glad you bumped this post. This case is such a mystery!

I hate how even I forget cases when there is no news at times. I saw his picture and to tell you the truth, I thought do I know that case, have I looked at that case and came in here and realized I had, then realized it dropped from my thoughts because of no new activity... And it wasn't a long enough followed case to be one that is foremost in my thoughts. And that's sad.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Mum of missing Owen Harding marks sixth months since disappearance

The mother of missing Saltdean teen Owen Harding has marked the sixth months since he went missing with a message to the community.

www.brightonandhoveindependent.co.uk

Mum of missing Owen Harding marks sixth months since disappearance

Owen, 16, was last seen in March when he left his home in Saltdean to watch the sunset but he never returned.
https://www.sussexexpress.co.uk/new...n-harding-who-vanished-five-weeks-ago-2598047
The emotional statement read: "Dear Saltdean community, today marks six months that Owen has been missing for. We last saw Owen on 26th March.

"I wholeheartedly thank you all, for your continued love and support. I truly know you are all out there, this really is a very special place to live and I know we all are feeling the very painful loss of Owen, our missing Saltdean Boy.

"I invite you all to light a candle, perhaps around 7pm this evening, have a quiet moment of reflection, and think of all those who we love so dearly, whether or not they are still present in our lives.

"I'm sharing this beautiful song, it means a lot to us, and it can provide some meaning and comfort in those sad and difficult moments.

"Again, many many thanks for thinking of Owen, and all the loving wishes and support and help you have shown me over the last six months."

 

[Kimster]

Mum of missing Owen Harding marks sixth months since disappearance

The mother of missing Saltdean teen Owen Harding has marked the sixth months since he went missing with a message to the community.

www.brightonandhoveindependent.co.uk

Mum of missing Owen Harding marks sixth months since disappearance

Owen, 16, was last seen in March when he left his home in Saltdean to watch the sunset but he never returned.
Mystery of missing Saltdean teenager Owen Harding who vanished five weeks ago
The emotional statement read: "Dear Saltdean community, today marks six months that Owen has been missing for. We last saw Owen on 26th March.

"I wholeheartedly thank you all, for your continued love and support. I truly know you are all out there, this really is a very special place to live and I know we all are feeling the very painful loss of Owen, our missing Saltdean Boy.

"I invite you all to light a candle, perhaps around 7pm this evening, have a quiet moment of reflection, and think of all those who we love so dearly, whether or not they are still present in our lives.

"I'm sharing this beautiful song, it means a lot to us, and it can provide some meaning and comfort in those sad and difficult moments.

"Again, many many thanks for thinking of Owen, and all the loving wishes and support and help you have shown me over the last six months."

Tell you what, I have absolutely no theories as to what happened to this young man.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

'It's a horrible limbo' - mum of missing teen prepares for first Christmas without son

A MOTHER is preparing for her first Christmas since her teenage son went missing more than eight months ago.

www.theargus.co.uk

Mum of missing Saltdean teen Owen Harding prepares for Christmas​

A MOTHER is preparing for her first Christmas since her teenage son went missing more than eight months ago.

“Me and my six-year-old daughter set up the tree last week,” the mum-of-two said. “One of the decorations says Owen on it.

“Usually, me and Owen bring the tree in together. We would have a little argument over where was the best place to put it. There would be needles everywhere.

“I thought it was going to be a devastating experience. Putting the lights and the tinsel up I had this gutted feeling because Owen’s not here. But we did it.



“But when a teenager or young adult goes missing they are not high risk in the same way as a young child.

“They are either deceased or they are keeping themselves alive and don’t want to be found.

“The police and all of us found it hard to believe it would be the second one.

“But then, is he dead? It’s an obvious answer, but it’s harrowing.

“We don’t want to think that.

“It’s a horrible limbo, but that’s the curse of having a person missing. You never know if they are alive or dead.

“All of us who know and love Owen hope that he will turn up.”

 

[Kimster]

Bless this dear mum during the holidays. May she have some kind of peace. It was sweet of her to share her tree with us.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Hard to believe that Owen hasn't been found.

'In my heart, I know he is gone' - Owen Harding has been missing for a year

A YEAR ago today, Stella Harding saw her 16-year-old son Owen for the last time.

www.theargus.co.uk

Owen Harding disappearance one year on​

A YEAR ago today, Stella Harding saw her 16-year-old son Owen for the last time.

Three days into the first UK lockdown, the Saltdean teenager went for a walk and never returned.

This evening, people in his hometown as well as many others across the country who have been touched by his story will place a candle in their window to mark 365 days since his disappearance.

Stella said Sussex Police have stayed in regular contact with her since that day and say they will continue to keep the case open.

"But if nothing turns up, there is nothing for them to go on," the swimming teacher said, "And there has been nothing new recently.

"I can't believe it's been a year. I'm still in shock, still missing Owen, just trying to work life out.

"This is a very difficult thing to say and I don't always say it but, in my heart, I know he is not alive any more.

"In my heart, I know he is gone."

 

[GrandmaBear]

It is a statement said quite often by local LE, higher up agencies and in various countries as well and the statement sometimes irritates me but it is true in most cases. Someone somewhere knows something is the gist... Or we just need that "one tip"... This case I think of that without it said. This boy did not just disappear off the face of the earth without someone seeing him or knowing something... Imo.

 

[Kimster]

When I think of somebody vanishing into thin air, I think of Owen!

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Mum marks birthday of missing son three years on from disappearance

A mum has spoken of her grief over the disappearance of her son on what would be his 20th birthday.

www.theargus.co.uk

Mum of Owen Harding on grief of son's disappearance from Saltdean​

Stella Harding saw her son Owen for the last time when he left their Saltdean home on March 26, 2020, just three days into the coronavirus lockdown.

It was believed that Owen, who was then 16, could have embarked on a 280-mile journey to see his girlfriend, Meg, in Pocklington, near York. He was unable to catch a train due to the Covid restrictions.

No trace of him has ever been found.

As Owen’s family celebrated what would have been his 20th birthday on Saturday in his absence, Stella says she has no choice but to continue living without answers about what happened to him.

“Grief is not a linear journey. Some days are good and some days are bad,” she said.


The school teacher said the police have been supportive but she feels they did not realise the seriousness of the situation early enough.

“The police have been good but there really isn’t anything for them to say. Any time I want to call them I can so they’ve been good in that sense,” she said.

“I feel like they didn’t take it seriously in the first place. It was 24 to 48 hours before they pulled out all the stops. We felt like they should have done more, sooner. They came round but they didn’t pull out all the stops.

“It wasn’t until later that they got the police helicopter and drones out.”

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Tragic and unsolved missing teenage boys who haven't been found

The case of Jay Slater has dominated headlines for weeks - culminating in the most tragic of developments as the teen's body was finally discovered. Yet many other heartbroken families are still struggling with mystery surrounding their own missing persons cases.

www.leeds-live.co.uk

VANISHED: The missing teenage boys whose cases remain unsolved​

The tragic case of Jay Slater has been a constant presence in the news over the past few weeks, ending in the devastating discovery of the teenager's body. However, countless other families continue to endure the mystery surrounding their own missing loved ones.

Every year, British police receive tens of thousands of missing person reports. While many teenagers are eventually found, a significant number of cases remain unsolved.

Jay's case has been one of the most high-profile in recent times, with a large-scale search operation ultimately leading to the discovery of his body. A post-mortem examination concluded that he had died from injuries suffered in a fall.

However, it's the high number of UK teenage boys currently listed as missing that draws the most direct comparison with Jay. We look at his tragic case and other similar unresolved mysteries.

Owen Harding​

Owen Harding, who was 16 at the time, vanished from his Saltdean, East Sussex, home around 7pm on March 26, 2020. Standing at approximately 6ft tall, Owen has short dark brown hair and is usually seen in tracksuit bottoms, dark hoodies and white trainers.

His mother reported that he had left to watch the sunset in the Telescombe Tye area. If you have any information regarding Owen Harding's whereabouts, please follow the link on Missing People here, keeping in mind the reference number 20-001647.