Kevin Hicks, 16, went missing in 1986 while walking home from the local shop in Addiscombe, Croydon.
He has never been seen since and in 2016 the Metropolitan Police said they believed he had been murdered.
Kevin was described as a happy teenager with no problems at school. He had been applying for jobs in the weeks before his disappearance.
On 2 March 1986, he spent a normal day with his family at their home in Sissinghurst Road, Addiscombe.
At around 8.30pm he told his mum he needed to buy some eggs for his O-level home economics exam the next day.
He left with £1 and headed off to Sperrings community shop, a couple of minutes walk away in Lower Addiscombe Road.
Kevin was last seen by someone who knew him at 10pm in Shirley Road, walking in the general direction of home.
He was never seen again and his parents Derek and Terry died without knowing what had happened to their son.
By 2016 his only surviving relative was his sister Alexandra Hicks, living in Sutton.
Christmas is always a particularly hard time of the year, especially now both my parents are gone. It would be the best Christmas present to have Kevin back or to know what has happened to him.
With Kevin and I being only a year and a day apart with our birthdays, the month of February is a constant reminder of not knowing where he is or what has happened to him.
On 2 March 2017 it will be 31 years since Kevin went missing and I appeal to anyone with any information, no matter how small, to come forward and assist police with their investigation. Someone somewhere knows something. It is time to let go of that secret.
Alexandra Hicks, speaking in 2016
That year the Metropolitan Police issued a new appeal to the public and offered a £20,000 reward for information leading to a conviction.
Detective Inspector John McQuade, from the Homicide and Major Crime Command, said: “Kevin simply disappeared that night and was never seen nor heard of again.
“We can only imagine what the intervening years must have been like for his family, years of worry and distress at not knowing what happened. Sadly, both his parents died without ever discovering the truth.
“Many enquiries have been carried out over the years but Kevin’s body has never been found but there is no evidence he is still alive. We believe Kevin must have met someone that night, been assaulted and his body disposed of.
“A substantial reward is on offer for anyone with information leading to the discovery of Kevin’s body or the prosecution of the person or people responsible for his murder.
“I hope this will encourage anyone with information – no matter how small you think that piece of information might be – to come forward as soon as possible.
“We believe Kevin must have met someone in that hour-and-a-half and that person attacked him. Perhaps the suspect didn’t mean to kill him but it is clear Kevin’s body must have then been disposed of.
“On 25 October 1996, following media appeals, someone anonymously called the Croydon Advertiser and said she knew where Kevin’s body was. We would appeal for that person to come forward and contact us again; you may have really important information for us.
“I truly believe people in the local Croydon community hold the answers to what happened to Kevin.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact the incident room on 020 8721 4005 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
I think this information might be worth sharing here.
3 Addiscombe cases seem to be linked.
In 2016
DI McQuade of the local croydon police said this.The teenager (Kevin) had been trying to conceal a pair of audio speakers they believe were given to him as a gift by whoever was grooming him.
There was a subsequent murder in the same area of a Gavin Smith who was lured into a garage with the promise of speakers…Anthony Jewhurst of Selsdon Address was charged with that crime in 1988 but walked free from court..He was back in the docks however in 1992 after repeatedly stabbing someone in his grandmother’s garage and was sent to prison for 7 years.In this case the victim survived.
So 3 cases that appear to be linked.
Anthony Jewhurst would clearly be to me the person of prime interest in this case..And I just wonder with modern forensics if they may progress further with the case and re interview potential witnesses.
Double Jeopardy laws have changed also changed.
I have brought a recently published book on murders in Addiscome.There was an Anthony Jewhurst charged with the murder of a Gavin Smith in 1986 after he was lured into a garage with the promise of stolen speakers..I noted in the book that police believe Kevin Hicks was also groomed with speakers and they now believe he was murdered.Both victims lived within streets of each other.
So the cases appear to be linked.
Now there was not enough evidence to convict Anthony Jewhurst at the time.But he later went to prison for stabbing someone repeatedly in the garage of his grandmother’s house.This victim survived.The sentence was seven years because the judge for reasons I can’t fathom said he should only be charged for grievous bodily harm not attempted murder.
Anthony Jewhurst would have been released from prison around 1997 at the time an answerphone message was left with Croydon police saying I know where the body is. ..But I confess that is pure speculation on my part.
But it does seem all 3 cases are linked.
So my question is..With better forensic evidence gathering as it is today today with DNA testing etc..Could police reopen the case.Or gather enough evidence to interview Anthony Jewhurst again?
If Anthony Jewhurst Tony Jewhurst..Whatever he might call himself today is still alive?
Or have they dismissed any link between the first two cases despite there proximity and the lure of speakers?
Hi Simon, would you be able to contact me please. I am doing some research on this case.
Hi Samantha,
Can you please contact me, I have some information of interest.
neilnmh@gmail.com
I believe the solution to this is investigating the people who worked at the local Co-op at the time, and where they were living at the time.
I worked at the co-op at the time and i remember Kevin because he worked there as a saturday boy.
I dont recall the police ever asking anyone who worked there if they knew anything about his disapearance.
Similarity with this case and Lee Boxell. Have the Police never linked them?
I remember Kevin from the Soul Asylum song ‘Runaway Train’ video. Ironically, I used to work with someone in Poole who was the spitting image of Kevin – the same age too! 😲
I hope Kevin is found soon…
I drive through occasionally on my delivery route and always think Kevin where did you go ? 🙁 . I Also think of Lee Boxall too 😓
Surely these cases must be connected.
RIP Young King
Still no news