Police issue major update on 14-year-old boy missing for 12 days

Police said a missing teenager is believed to have entered a river as they carry out “a substantial investigation” to find him.

Extensive physical searches of the River Taw and the surrounding estuary in Barnstaple have now been completed as 14-year-old Taylor Charlton remains missing. Taylor went missing on Friday, 8 May, and today Devon and Cornwall Police said in an update that he “may have entered the water”.

The last-confirmed sighting of Taylor was captured on CCTV in the Tesco Extra car park, in Station Road, at around 10.30pm on Friday 8 May. Footage shows him heading in the direction of the River Taw. He was reported as missing at around 5.15pm on Saturday 9 May.

Shoes believed to belong to Taylor were respectively found on the high tide line of the riverbank between Sticklepath and Bickington, around 480m apart, on consecutive days on 13 and 14 May, police also said in their update today.

This follows a sustained and focused search operation during the past week involving highly-trained and specialist teams. A sonar-equipped boat and divers have been utilised to carry out further enquiries along the waterway today.

Sector Inspector Andy Wills said: “We fully understand how difficult and upsetting this continues to be for Taylor’s family, friends, and the wider community. Our thoughts remain firmly with them. Taylor’s family continue to be updated and supported by specially-trained officers. The River Taw and its estuary present an extremely challenging environment to search, particularly given tidal conditions.

“Over the past week, a rigorous and methodical search of the area has been conducted with support from specialist resources and equipment and partner agencies.

“I want to reassure the public that our investigation remains very much active. Detectives continue to carry out extensive enquiries, review information, and carefully assess any new intelligence that comes to light.

“Our commitment to doing everything we can to provide clarity and to find answers for Taylor’s loved-ones will not stop.

“Further searches can and will take place if further information comes to light as part of continuing enquiries.

“We are very grateful for the support shown by the local community throughout this difficult time. It has been significant and deeply appreciated. We would continue to urge anyone with information, no matter how small it may seem to them, to come forward and speak to us.”

Police said anyone with information that is urgent can phone 999, or in less pressing circumstances they can call 101 quoting reference number 50260117084.