Family of Martyn Richardson 'really need new information'

Martyn Richardson, 27, was last seen in the Bocking area around 8.30pm on Saturday, August 24.

He was wearing a grey hoodie with a long-sleeved top underneath with a stripe down the arms, black fleece shorts, and black shoes.

Lee Richardson, 42, is Martyn’s uncle who lived with Martyn up until he turned 12.

Photo - Essex Police shared the CCTV image of Martyn when he was last seen. (Image: Essex Police) Lee has been sharing all the information he can about his nephew’s disappearance on social media in the hopes it will lead to Martyn being found.

He said: “Martyn was at a family party on Saturday, August 24.

“He was last seen on CCTV going down the route we’d expect him to take, along the back of Convent Lane by the Blackwater Nature Reserves, up Church Street all the way to Bocking Village Hall.

“He has Aspergers and wasn’t planning to stay at the party long, which is why he took his bike.

“He was seen on the Co-Op CCTV at Bocking around 8.30pm, and then on The Retreat CCTV a few minutes later.”

Essex Police launched an appeal at the start of September appealing for “four possible witnesses” who were spotted in the area at the time Martyn was last seen.

Three people were walking their dogs in The Chase, walking from Dorewards Avenue towards Dorewards Farm, at around 8.45pm on August 24.

The force identified another person wearing dark clothing, walking alone at around the same time in The Chase, walking from Dorewards Farm before turning into the footpath towards Broad Road.

Search - Specialist police teams have assisted in the investigation. (Image: Essex Police) Lee said: “Then on the following Tuesday, August 27, they found Martyn’s bike in the overgrown grass by the river, between The Chase and Dorewards Avenue.

“That’s the last lead they have, they don’t have anything other than that.”

Lee shared earlier that day, Martyn had been going to work at McDonald’s on Galleys Corner, where he has worked since he was 16.

Lee said: “I saw him at the party and earlier that day—he was happy.”

Police have asked the public not to engage in search activities in case of compromising evidence and for their own health and safety, with lots of areas surrounded by the river.

Lee continued: “We are still appealing for the dog walkers in the area on the evening, even if they have no information, just so the police can rule them out as any potential witnesses.

“We really just need some information, we’re at a loss of where to go.

“We’re continuing to search, but we’re searching the same places.

“We just want to get the information out there to as many people as possible.”

Loss - Lee said they are continuing to search in the same places as police have no new leads. (Image: Essex Police) Lee added: “It is really lovely to know that the community of Braintree and Bocking is so helpful and wants to do so much to help—it’s really appreciated by all the family.

“We’re just really appealing for anyone to come forward.

“If they want to do it anonymously there’s the ‘Find Martyn’ Facebook page, we just want information to find Martyn.”

Lee will continue to monitor the Facebook group, which can be found here: FIND MARTYN | Facebook