THE FAMILY of a missing man were drinking water from the same reservoir his body had been decomposing in for six months.
Six months after going missing in December, Glen Godfrey’s body was finally discovered, though police previously had promised his family that divers had thoroughly searched the King George VI Reservoir in Staines, Surrey.
The heartbroken family of the 38-year-old man claimed that Surrey Police assured them that there was no chance his body was in the water, as experts had advised that it would have reappeared on the surface after 37 days.
The reservoir, located near Heathrow Airport, belongs to Thames Water and supplies drinking water across London.
Glen’s mother, Denise, reported him missing 18 days after he was last seen in Staines on December 4 last year.
Amy McGill, his grieving cousin, criticized the police for being “dismissive” after a Thames Water employee found his body in the same reservoir on May 13.
Speaking to The Sun, Amy fumed: “We, as a family and as a community, were drinking water from the very reservoir where Glen’s body was decomposing.
“Glen’s body was finally discovered in the reservoir, a body of water that police had repeatedly assured us had been thoroughly searched twice.
“We’ve begged the police for answers and transparency, but they’ve been extremely dismissive.
“They don’t want to tell us what they found in the post-mortem exam.
“These are really important details that could lead us to the truth as to what happened to him.
“I don’t know, for example, if he had any water in his lungs, drugs or alcohol in his system, or anything else.
“We were told by water recovery experts that Glen was 100% not in the reservoir, claiming that flotation occurs after 37 days.
“And yet, Glen was later found right there.”
The family, from Ashford, Surrey, said they have unanswered questions as to why his body did not resurface after 37 days.
They decided to take matters into their own hands, leading untrained searches with public volunteers themselves.
A GoFundMe page was also set up to fund the desperate search, raising more than £5,000.
Amy said: “We privately funded specialist search teams and even brought in search dogs.
“These dogs signalled Glen’s presence in the reservoir, months before his body was found.
“The police dismissed these indications as ‘just silts of mud’.
“Glen’s family, friends, and even strangers, conducted our own daily searches, risking our safety without proper equipment or training.
“We could never thank these selfless individuals enough.
“Surrey Police would make Facebook posts and our community would ask questions why they didn’t check properly.
“The police would delete their posts, even after editing them, silencing conversation and avoiding responsibility.”
They have also launched a petition to create “Glen’s Law” after their six month battle for answers.
The law calls for better accountability from authorities, compassionate communication between families and authorities, family liaison officers and consideration of third-party involvement.
On the petition’s official page, the family said: “Glen’s story is not unique.
“Across the nation, families face the abyss of uncertainty when a loved one goes missing, especially in cases involving bodies of water.
“We demand a change; we need “Glen’s Law,” a national framework to ensure immediate, professional, and effective responses to all missing persons cases.”
Recounting Glen’s last steps, Amy added: “His last known moments were with a homeless man and woman.
“Their accounts were troubling and inconsistent, yet they were never treated as persons of interest.
“Glen was seen withdrawing money from his bank, telling the cashier he was going to a party.
“Hours later, he vanished at their camp on Staines Moor, never to be seen alive again.
“What’s even more alarming is that we’ve received hundreds of messages from members of the public who encountered the two individuals Glen was last seen with.
“Many of these messages contain chilling stories of threats, intimidation, and even fear for their own lives.”
The family’s local community hailing from surrounding areas such as Staines, Ashford, Hounslow and Heathrow have taken to social media to share their thoughts.
One Facebook user wrote: “Maybe if Surrey Police listened to the poor family, six months they have been through this!
“No support from Surrey police for this family at all. It’s absolutely heartbreaking.”
Another added: “Isn’t the reservoir used for drinking water?
“How can Surrey Police not search this more extensively?
“6 months worth of drinking water with potential human remains in?
“Not only let the family down. Let the wider community down as well.
“Disgraceful response.”
In response, Surrey Police defended its “robust” investigation into Glen’s disappearance.
A spokesperson for the force said: “We continue to offer our thoughts to Glen’s family following the sad discovery of his body at the King George VI Reservoir in Stanwell earlier this year.
“Following the report to Surrey Police on 22 December 2024, we carried out a robust investigation to initially find Glen, and subsequently when his body was found, to rule out any third party involvement in his death.
“We explored various lines of enquiry, including reviewing CCTV and phone records.
“We also carried out interviews with those Glen was last known to be with, released public appeals for information and conducted extensive searches in the vicinity of where he was last sighted.
“This included using specialist search and rescue teams, underwater sonar equipment and dive teams to assist in finding him.
“We have remained in contact with Glen’s next of kin, and are aware that some members of his family continue to have questions around his death.
“The matter is now an investigation that will continue by the Surrey Coroner and an inquest will take place in due course.
“We have attempted to engage with Glen’s wider family to provide additional support at what remains a difficult time, and have encouraged them to use our complaints process if they remain unsatisfied with Surrey Police.”
Thames Water has been approached for comment.
