Damien Nettles - Missing 21 Years This Month

[MG11]

This month marked the 21st anniversary of Damien Nettles's disappearance. He went missing after a night out in Cowes, Isle Of Wight and there have been no confirmed sightings since. What is odd though is the attitude of the police towards this case, they refused to take the case seriously at first, calling a family member hysterical, they lost crucial CCTV footage and it took them 14 years to track down witnesses. It has been rumoured that the police could have a reason for not wanting to find Damien, I stress could. Apparently, one of the cheif suspects is alleged to have obtained witness statements. What does everyone else make of this case?? The BBC explored theories involving drug dealers, whilst the police are alleged to have claimed they think that Damien fell in to the sea.


Damien's family have set up a Facebook page to raise awareness if anyone would like to show their respect.

 

[takno]

The BBC documentary is worth a watch. My impression was that the falling in the sea theory was credible, even likely. It was certainly possible that there was a drug link, but at the end of the day there is no hope of any evidence, and probably never was. Devastating as it is for the family I doubt the truth can actually be known at this point, and it's unlikely that even if the police enquiry had been more aggressive it would have turned up the truth.

I understand why it happens, but one of the most tragic aspects of cases like this for me is how the family get trapped in the case and lose the rest of their lives in wondering and false hope.

 

[MG11]

The BBC documentary is worth a watch. My impression was that the falling in the sea theory was credible, even likely. It was certainly possible that there was a drug link, but at the end of the day there is no hope of any evidence, and probably never was. Devastating as it is for the family I doubt the truth can actually be known at this point, and it's unlikely that even if the police enquiry had been more aggressive it would have turned up the truth.

I understand why it happens, but one of the most tragic aspects of cases like this for me is how the family get trapped in the case and lose the rest of their lives in wondering and false hope.

Yes! The family themselves describe it as being in limbo. The documentary was interesting, but left me with my questions than answers. I do wonder if the police searched the forest, if they would find something though. Damien's mother Val said on Blogspot that she found decomposition powder at the rumoured burial site a few years back and had taken it off to be tested but there has been no update on that.

 

[Busaholic]

Although his body was found, the recent case of Josh Clayton on the Scilly island of Tresco bears certain similarities to Damian Nettles, particularly the marked reluctance of the police to get involved. Google his name if you're interested.

 

[DarloRich]

There are many cases like this - I recall one about 2 young boys from the west midlands dubbed the milk carton kids. The police were reluctant to investigate and time was lost. The case review criticised the police and their assumptions about the families involved. However they pointed out that policing had changed and that two missing young boys would be investigated differently today.

There is a piece on the BBC here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-37999316

 

[MG11]

There are many cases like this - I recall one about 2 young boys from the west midlands dubbed the milk carton kids. The police were reluctant to investigate and time was lost. The case review criticised the police and their assumptions about the families involved. However they pointed out that policing had changed and that two missing young boys would be investigated differently today.

There is a piece on the BBC here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-37999316

That's very mysterious as you'd have thought if it was a pact to run away, one of them may have got home sick etc. It seems policing was very different in the 90s. I'm probably too young to remember clearly but there certainly wasn't the precautions to ensure children stay safe today - mainly the don't talk to strangers advice.

 

[DarloRich]

That's very mysterious as you'd have thought if it was a pact to run away, one of them may have got home sick etc. It seems policing was very different in the 90s. I'm probably too young to remember clearly but there certainly wasn't the precautions to ensure children stay safe today - mainly the don't talk to strangers advice.

There was plenty of the don't talk to strangers advice - there just wasn't the police focus as quickly as there would be today.

 

[Cowley]

Very sad cases all of them. I watched the BBC documentary about Damien Nettles when it was on too, and the CCTV clip of him in the takeaway showing him confused and somewhat lost was very haunting.
They may be adult sized at that age but they’re still vulnerable.

 

[takno]

That's very mysterious as you'd have thought if it was a pact to run away, one of them may have got home sick etc. It seems policing was very different in the 90s. I'm probably too young to remember clearly but there certainly wasn't the precautions to ensure children stay safe today - mainly the don't talk to strangers advice.

Not talking to strangers has been a mainstay of advice to children since at least 1969, and in fact this "Charley says" film on the topic was pretty iconic in the 90s