Man Found Dead in Garage Nearly Two Weeks After Going Missing
The body of 68-year-old Robert Wright was tragically discovered inside a garage at his Romford home by his own sister. The grim find came almost two weeks after his family first alerted the Metropolitan Police about his disappearance.
Delayed Police Response Under Fire
Mr Wright’s body was found on May 10, despite his family raising the alarm on April 28. Shockingly, the police did not officially log the missing person’s report until May 1. The discovery at his Squirrels Heath Road property suggested he had taken his own life.
At a preliminary hearing on May 21, Senior Coroner Graeme Irvine revealed welfare checks were ongoing at the time, but it was the sister’s own investigations—not police efforts—that led to the fatal discovery.
“The fact that Mr Wright’s death was the subject of a missing persons investigation prior to the discovery of his death means that his death deserves scrutiny,” Mr Irvine stated.
The coroner has formally named the Metropolitan Police an “interested party” in the inquest, giving them rights to view evidence, respond to findings, and question witnesses at the full hearing.
Inquest to Probe Police Handling of Case
Mr Irvine has ordered the Met to submit a detailed statement from the inspector in charge of the missing person investigation. This must include:
- The timeline of efforts made to locate Mr Wright
- The risk level assigned to his case and the reasoning behind it
- Details of any searches conducted at Mr Wright’s home before May 10
The full inquest is provisionally set for 7 November 2025.
Metropolitan Police Respond
A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police said,
“Our sympathies remain with Mr Wright’s family and all those who knew him at this extremely difficult time.”
The delay in logging and acting on the missing person report is expected to be a central issue at the upcoming inquest.
Support for Those in Crisis
Mr Wright’s death is being treated as non-suspicious. Support services stress the importance of reaching out during emotional hardships.
If you or someone you know is struggling, the Samaritans offer confidential support 24/7, 365 days a year:
- Call free: 116 123
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.samaritans.org
