‘We kept hope until the end’: Missing Jamie Grant’s mother recounts devastation after body found UK News

The heartbroken mother of tragic Jamie Grant paid tribute to her son by thanking everyone who tried to help bring him home safely.

The 27-year-old was reported missing after disappearing from his home on February 8.

Northumbria Police launched a search operation as friends and family scoured the streets and countryside near his home in Whickham Gateshead in a desperate bid to find him.

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But the worst fears of Jamie’s loved ones came true on Friday when his body was found near the River Derwent.

The police are still investigating Jamie’s death.

His devastated mother, Andrea, recounted her heartbreaking loss and her gratitude to everyone who helped search for her beloved boy.

The 47-year-old said: “I was just hoping we would find him. We were still hoping until his body was found. I just clung to hope.”

And paying tribute to his son, Andrea added: “He was happy, he was a nice boy. He loved being with his family.”

Jamie was the eldest of five children and was an outgoing boy growing up. But he began to suffer from mental health issues in his early 20s and was later diagnosed with schizophrenia.

“He was a funny, outgoing person,” Andrea said. “He liked to play football with the guys. He loved X-box. He was just a typical boy. It wasn’t until he was 20 that he found out he had problems with Mental Health.

“At first we didn’t know what was going on. He was paranoid and heard voices. From the age of 19 we felt something was wrong, he just wasn’t right at all .”

With the right medication and the support of her loving family and social workers, Jamie was able to live independently in her home in Whickham.

But he saw his mother every day and had planned to move into her home in Beacon Lough in the months before she disappeared.

“He would have good days and bad days,” Andrea said. “I saw him every day. He always wanted his mum. We were very close.

Andrea last saw Jamie the day before he disappeared when he came for tea.

His mother took him home and it was agreed that she would return the next day with errands for him.

Andrea instantly knew something was wrong when she arrived at Jamie’s apartment to find he wasn’t there.

“His keys were left on his bench,” she said. “I felt sick and felt like something was wrong, so I called the police right away.”

Andrea then set out to find Jamie herself. And tragically, she passed by where Jamie’s body was found as she searched.

“I went to pick it up with my friends,” she said. “We got in the car and drove everywhere. We drove all over town and all over Whickham. We’d even been to where he was found. Everyone helped look for him.”

Despite her frantic worry, Andrea held on to hope of finding her son.

Two years ago, Jamie disappeared from his home, but was discovered to be staying with a friend.

So Andrea prayed that the result would be the same this time.

But tragically, Jamie’s body was found on Friday by a member of the public who was walking his dog along the River Derwent.

“The police phoned us on Friday morning and said a body had been found, but they said ‘I don’t want you to worry, maybe it’s not your son’.”

However, detectives then came to Andrea’s home to tell her that Jamie’s bus pass had been found on the body.

“Then the CID came knocking on the door and I knew,” she said. “I hadn’t prepared for this moment. I just didn’t expect it.”

On Monday, the kind stranger who found Jamie took his family to where his body was discovered.

“The guy who found him took us there so we could lay flowers. We were across the river screaming his name. We were so close it’s scary.

“I’m so grateful to him and everyone who helped him.”

Jamie is also survived by her father Kelvin Roxby, 67, and siblings Bradley, 17, Alisha, 15, Mica, 26 and Kylie, 11.

The police do not regard Jamie’s death as suspicious and prepare a report for the coroner.

Det Chief Insp Angela Hudson, of Northumbria Police, said: ‘We would like to thank those who shared our appeal to help find Jamie and our thoughts remain with his family and loved ones. Our specialist agents will continue to offer them support during this extremely difficult time. »

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