The mom of the missing student Richard Okorogheye has spoken of the “hell” of nonetheless ready for information two weeks after he disappeared, with every passing day turning into more durable to bear.
Okorogheye, 19, who has sickle cell illness, has not made contact together with his household since leaving dwelling in Ladbroke Grove, west London, at about 8.30pm on Monday 22 March.
Police proceed to look the Epping Forest space, the place the Oxford Brookes University student was final seen on CCTV within the early hours of 23 March.
His mom, Evidence Joel, 39, a group nurse, implored the general public to stay vigilant and report any sightings.
“It’s very troublesome. It’s hell,” she informed the Guardian. “Not understanding the place Richard is, together with his well being situation as properly, it’s a whole nightmare.”
Joel has spent sleepless nights and anxious days by the cellphone ready for information. “Every day is a nightmare for me now. The days are going by. Time is ticking and I don’t know what to anticipate,” she mentioned.
“I really feel utterly helpless. Helpless, and in addition, sorry to make use of this phrase, however I really feel ineffective. Because I wish to go on the market, to do one thing to search for him, seek for him, something. But I can’t,” she mentioned of getting to attend at dwelling in case he makes contact.
Okorogheye had been shielding resulting from his well being, which requires him to take tablets day by day and to be recurrently hydrated. Joel’s worry, and that of Okorogheye’s father, Christian Okorogheye, is that the chilly climate dangers triggering a well being disaster, exposing him to excruciating ache. “We know he didn’t take a jacket when he went out. That’s actually worrying,” she mentioned.
The missing student Richard Okorogheye and a screengrab of CCTV footage dated 23 March of him in Loughton, Essex. Photograph: Metropolitan Police/PA
Replaying occasions instantly earlier than his disappearance from the house he shares along with her, she stays mystified over what precipitated it. “Richard and I’ve a fantastic relationship. There’s no apparent clue or agitation or something that would have led to what occurred,” she mentioned.
The lengthy months spent shielding could have been an element, she mentioned, with it being particularly troublesome for a younger man of his age. He would solely go away the home to go to hospital for normal blood transfusions.
Similarly, as a first-year laptop science student having to check on-line, there was not the face-to-face assist from lecturers and tutors. “That might have impacted too,” she added.
Okorogheye was seen boarding a No 23 bus headed southbound in Ladbroke Grove at 8.44pm on 22 March, with CCTV footage exhibiting him dressed all in black and carrying a black satchel with a white Adidas brand, worn throughout his decrease again. He then took a taxi from west London to a residential road in Loughton, and was captured on CCTV strolling in direction of Epping Forest at 12.39am on 23 March. There has been no exercise on his cellphone. Police divers have been deployed as a part of the investigation.
His mom mentioned he had by no means talked about Loughton or Epping Forest to her. He was recurrently on PlayStation and it was potential he could have deliberate to met somebody from that space he knew on-line. She implored anybody from his on-line group of associates who would possibly know something to contact police.
While initially she felt police had been sluggish to deal with his disappearance critically, she mentioned she was grateful to officers who had been working “very laborious, every single day, with the concentrate on discovering Richard”.
“He was a contented baby. I’ve appeared again, mirrored again, however there’s nothing to clearly present that Richard was sad,” she mentioned.
In a message to him, she mentioned: “We miss you very a lot. Everybody misses you. And we love you very a lot. We need you dwelling. Please come dwelling.”
Describing “my solely child”, she mentioned: “Richard may be very targeted. He’s clever. He’s a gentleman. He’s vibrant. He’s non-public. He’s very useful locally. If he sees you carrying a bag, he’ll ask that will help you. He will maintain doorways open for you. He’s sort. He’s understanding.
“The entire group, they love him. Sometimes folks ask me: ‘Is he your son? Wow. You’ve obtained a star.’ I’m very pleased with him. I’d take a look at him every single day and I can’t consider, truly, I’ve raised such a targeted and clever man.”
A eager basketball participant, she mentioned: “He’s six foot and I believe he’ll most likely get taller.” He was beneficiant together with his time, and educational, she added, saying he typically helped out associates with maths and English research.
Joel, who used to run a nursery, is well-known in the area people, which has rallied to assist her. “The assist has been overwhelming, and an enormous consolation” she mentioned. Well-wishers from her native church and from as far afield as Nigeria, the US and Canada had provided Easter prayers for his protected return.
Anyone with data is requested to name police on 101.
