The body of Robert Wright, 68, was found by his own sister inside a garage at his Romford home, nearly two weeks after the family had first alerted the Metropolitan Police to his disappearance.
The shocking discovery, made on May 10, occurred almost two weeks after his family raised the alarm on April 28, though the police did not officially log the missing person’s report until May 1.
Mr Wright was found at his property on Squirrels Heath Road, and it is believed he had taken his own life.
Coroner Raises Concerns Over Police Response
At a preliminary hearing on Wednesday, 21 May, Senior Coroner Graeme Irvine told East London Coroner’s Court that welfare checks were “ongoing” at the time of Mr Wright’s discovery.
However, it was his sister’s own enquiries, not police efforts, that led to the grim discovery in the garage.
“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 formally declared the Metropolitan Police an “interested party” to the inquest, a status that grants them the right to view evidence, respond to findings, and question witnesses during the full hearing.
Inquest to Examine Police Handling
Mr Irvine has ordered the Met to produce a detailed statement from the inspector overseeing the missing person investigation, including:
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The timeline of efforts made to locate Mr Wright
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The risk level assigned to his case and the rationale behind it
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What, if any, searches were conducted at Mr Wright’s home prior to May 10
The final inquest is provisionally scheduled for 7 November 2025.
Metropolitan Police Response
A Met Police spokesperson 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’s report is likely to form a central focus of the inquest later this year.
Support for Those in Crisis
Mr Wright’s death is being treated as non-suspicious, and support services have reiterated the importance of reaching out in times of emotional difficulty.
If you or someone you know is struggling, Samaritans offers confidential support 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
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Call free on 116 123
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Email: [email protected]
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Website: www.samaritans.org
