In a recent development in the long-standing mystery surrounding the disappearance of 14-year-old schoolboy Andrew Gosden, two men who were arrested by officers in December 2021 have been released by the police. The pair had been held on suspicion of kidnap and human trafficking in connection with Andrew’s disappearance, but authorities now assert that they played no role in the case.
Andrew Gosden’s disappearance has haunted investigators and his family for 16 years since he was last seen on September 14, 2007, at King’s Cross Station in London. He had boarded a train from Doncaster, but his whereabouts after that fateful day have remained a mystery.
Detective Chief Inspector Andy Knowles, who has been leading the investigation, expressed confidence that the two men arrested had no involvement in Andrew’s disappearance. South Yorkshire Police disclosed that the arrested men were interviewed extensively, and their electronic devices were analysed by specialist officers.
Andrew’s parents, Kevin and Glenys Gosden, have been tirelessly advocating for answers over the years. They expressed their gratitude to the police for conducting a comprehensive investigation but also shared their ongoing anguish. “The past months of this investigation have been a period of additional difficulty for our family, intensifying our sense of living in limbo, not knowing what happened to our much-loved son,” they said in a statement.
On the day of his disappearance, Andrew had skipped school and withdrawn nearly £200 from his bank account before purchasing a one-way ticket to London. CCTV footage captured his arrival at King’s Cross Station, but the motive behind his trip to the capital remains unclear.
The arrested men, aged 38 and 45 at the time of their arrests, were detained in London with the assistance of the Metropolitan Police. Despite extensive efforts, no other arrests have been made in this high-profile case.
Detective Chief Inspector Knowles emphasised that the investigation remains active, and he urged anyone with information to come forward, stating, “Even the smallest piece of information could help detectives find answers for Andrew’s family.”
The Gosden family’s unwavering quest for closure continues as they, along with law enforcement, hope to uncover the truth about what happened to Andrew Gosden on that September day in 2007.
