On Sept. 14, 2007, 14-year-old Andrew Gosden disappeared after leaving his home in Doncaster, England.
Andrew initially dressed for school and told his family, “see you later,” according to South Yorkshire Police. But after his family left, he returned home, changed clothes and set out again. He withdrew £200 from his bank account and purchased a one-way ticket to London.
Surveillance footage recorded Andrew leaving King’s Cross railway station at 11:25 a.m. He has not been seen since.
Nineteen years later, Andrew’s father, Kevin Gosden, says the circumstances surrounding his son’s disappearance remain unresolved.
“We still miss Andrew all the time,” Kevin wrote in a blog post. “And have no resolution of any kind.”
Kevin said he struggled to write a post marking Andrew’s 33rd birthday in July, admitting he was “literally having no idea what to write.”
“A little later, as I reflected on it, I realised that I would end up writing a blog about not writing a blog,” he explained. “Some of it comes down to the ongoing battles with depression and anxiety, some of it simply because nothing has changed and never seems to.”
Kevin also said he has been contacted several times this year about producing a documentary on his son’s disappearance.
“[I] have felt unable to say yes,” he wrote, “because telling the story again is so painful, and that after so long (19 years) I have discovered that none of it has turned up anything concrete about what happened to our son.”
Although appearing in a documentary did not feel right this year, Kevin said he has continued working with the UK charity Missing People. That collaboration includes a recent video emphasizing the importance of the organization’s support services.
“The greatest hope in our situation for so long,” Kevin said, “is that others are spared this pain and should they have to endure it, they know where to turn for help and support.”
South Yorkshire Police also marked the 19th anniversary of Andrew’s disappearance.
“We continue to review any information we receive in relation to Andrew’s disappearance,” the department said in a statement shared on Facebook. “It’s not too late to get in touch, and if you know something that could help us find him, please get in contact with us. Even the smallest piece of information could prove to be helpful.”
Detective Chief Inspector Andy Knowles said Andrew has a “distinctive double ridge” on his right ear. He is deaf in his left ear and would require strong glasses or contact lenses to correct his vision.
A police age progression image released in 2020 depicts what Andrew may look like as an adult.
