Mystery still surrounds the death of 14-year-old Dukeries College pupil Josh Mitchell, who was discovered on wasteground off Turner Lane in the village on 11th September.
Yesterday, his parents Cath and Simon issued a heartfelt appeal for more information about his death –– and say they and Josh's older brothers James and Stephen will only be able to move on with their lives when all their questions have been answered.
- Click the green 'play' icon to watch a video interview with Cath and Simon Mitchell.
"To this day we still do not know what happened to Josh and we need answers to move forwards, we will never have closure until we get those answers –– which we think lie in the community," said Cath.
Forty-five-year-old Cath was one of the first people to discover Josh slumped on the ground with his trousers partly down.
She then watched in horror as Simon (39) desperately battled to resuscitate Josh –– a heartbreaking moment they say they will never forget.
"I was at work at the shop on Turner Lane having a coffee break when I noticed what I thought was a drunk person collapsed in the street with a blanket over them –– but then someone said it was my son," Cath told Chad.
"I shouted for my boss and ran over to see Josh collapsed. He was blue and not breathing. I rang Simon who rushed to the scene and tried to give Josh mouth-to-mouth, but it didn't work.
"We don't believe Josh collapsed in the street, but that he was placed there by the way he was lying and his trousers were partly down."
Cath and Simon say their son was a typical teenager, but were aware that he had been dabbling in drugs and believe Josh may have become involved with the wrong crowd who led him astray.
But the loving parents say they remember their son as a fun-loving, outgoing teenager who could brighten up anyone's day.
"When Josh smiled, you smiled, his laugh made you laugh –– everyone loved him and misses him greatly," said Cath.
"Since his death every day has been a struggle, we go to work and keep going to find the answers, but we rarely smile anymore."
Cath and Simon say the community has been 'incredibly' supportive over the past year, but they need people to put any fears they have aside and tell police what they know about Josh's death.
"We cannot rest until we know everything," Cath told Chad. "I feel there are people who know more. For the sake of my family and for Josh's sake I want people to please tell the investigation team anything they know."
Police investigating Josh's death have urged residents in the area with any information to contact them immediately.
'Experimenting'Said Det Insp Dave Sinclair: "Josh was spending a lot of time away from home with his friends and is believed to have been experimenting with drugs. I believe that it is this that has stopped some members of the community coming forward with information relating to Josh's death.
"It is imperative that I present all the facts to the coroner and I believe that the moral standings of the people on the estate will overcome their fears and enable them to come forward to the police with any information regarding the incident which will help me provide Josh's family with the answers they need."
- Anybody with information should contact Det Insp Sinclair or the investigation team on 01909 500999 ext 7135 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
