Your favourite unsolved mystery?

jr86 wrote: »

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disappearance_of_Andrew_Gosden

Never heard of this before but it's arguably the oddest case I've come across

Extremely intelligent 14 year old - with a 100% school attendance record, who was apparently fairly unsociable and rarely left the house, and who generally would leave a note if he even popped to the shop - one day decided to bunk off and head to London for a day (he was from Doncaster). He was spotted on CCTV leaving kings cross and never seen again

He went to his local park that morning instead of school, waited for his parents to go to work, and then returned home where he staged being at school - he hung up his blazer and put the rest of his uniform in the wash. He then left early for Doncaster train station. By the way his returning home and subsequent re-exit was caught on CCTV of a neighbours' house.

Here are the oddities:

He only took his PSP (this was 2007 by the way). No charger, no change of clothes etc. He left 100 quid at home but then withdrew 200 from an ATM before getting to Doncaster train station. He had 214 in his account and it had no 10 pound note so essentially he cleared his account. So new life theories seem already debunked

But get this, the ticket operator who sold him the train ticket remembers him clearly as he was adamant he didn't want a return ticket despite it being only 50p dearer and she continually asked was he sure he just wanted a single given the circumstances, to which he was certain he did

His last confirmed citing was the CCTV in kings cross (the image of him leaving the train station - clearly on his own - gives me the heebie jeebies)

After that it seems the parents weren't too happy with the police's efforts. It was too late to avail of any other CCTV in London by the time they were on the case. The school had tried to phone his parents when he didn't turn up but dialled a wrong number

There was two credible sightings - followed up by the parents not the police. They were later on that day at a pizza hut and covent garden. The pizza hut one especially - apparently they described his mannerisms and way he talked exactly like Andrew in reality. Both instances he was reported to be on his own

He had family in London and stayed there with his immediate family from time to time. He appeared pretty streetwise and was likely to be able to navigate the tube etc

But it's all a complete mystery. A popular theory followed up was that he attended a concert but it seemed out of character not to ask his parents and in any case he never appeared to ask any relation or anyone to stay over

He wasn't being visibly bullied, although this seemed to be more hunches than anything. He apparently had started walking to school in the days before his disappearance - a 1.5 hour walk - rather than the bus, which was deemed out of character. He didn't seem to have many friends and was intellectually gifted.

So all in all very, very weird case

Did he commit suicide? His father wondered whether he may have been gay and that this was too much of a burden. But absolutely zero trace of a body and why go all the way to London.

The obvious theory is he was groomed. But to throw even more bizarreness into the mix - his internet usage was completely limited and there was zero traces of him interacting with anyone online, from the school computer, and home laptops etc. He had a phone, used it extremely sparingly (again he had few friends) but lost it a good bit before his disappearance I think, and was extremely indifferent to the point he never replaced it

All I can surmise is that he may have been groomed offline and was of the impression he would be delivered safely home that evening, so no need to get return ticket. But then why was he apparently alone at pizza hut - if this was him, which the parents are convinced it was

Interestingly he attended some school for the intellectually gifted over the summer I believe (the disappearance is a few days into a new school year in September).

Another interesting point - possible red herring - his favourite book was about a character who staged his death and restarted a new life.

I find it hard to believe he's alive though sadly

Fascinating case and well worth a read. It has completely stumped Reddit and the likes . Basically a quiet, rule abiding, and anti social 14 year old decided one day to up and head for the lights of London and literally vanishes off the earth

jr86 wrote: »

The weirdest thing is pretty much every theory seems to throw up contradictions

If he simply wanted to disappear why not bring his PSP charger - by all accounts he was a heavy user , the 100 quid in his room, any change of clothes - even a jacket, and a passport?

It seems a shoddy attempt at starting a new life but it may have been complete spur of the moment in fairness.

That said if he was still alive, 12 years on and grown out of adolescence surely he would have come to his senses at some stage and contacted his family

Zero credible sightings after that day. Unless he became a beggar on the street, chances are he died, given he couldn't leave the country sans passport

Whether this was foul play or voluntary , who knows

jr86 wrote: »

Technically not unsolved. But the Erickson twins. Craziest story I've ever seen. Will not link to it cos it will cause distress. People are free to look it up. Haunts me till this day... Freakiest story ever

jr86 wrote: »

Apparently so little information on their background too. And I'm pretty sure zero witnesses of their journey to Liverpool

It's like they were superhuman or something. Honestly gives me the absolute creeps.