Council supporting Essex Police in search for missing Martyn Richardson
Officers from Braintree District Council have been assisting Essex Police in their search for Martyn Richardson - who has been missing for more than four weeks. The 27-year-old has not been seen since he left a family birthday party in Bocking, near Braintree at around 8.30pm on August 24.
He was reported missing after he didn’t return home the following day. He was last seen wearing a grey hoodie with a long-sleeved top underneath with a stripe down the arms, black fleece shorts, and black shoes.
Martyn’s bike was found on August 27 in fields near the River Blackwater to the east of Church Lane. Studying CCTV, Essex Police say Martyn had been in Church Street at 8.25pm on August 24 and have been carrying out enquiries to establish his movements after this point.
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Braintree District Council has confirmed they have been supporting Essex Police in the search for Martyn, who is from Bocking. Councillor Mary Cunningham said: “We are very grateful for the work of the local policing team and all they are doing to try and find Martin we share our thoughts with Martin's Family at this difficult time and hope he's brought home to safety soon.
“Officers from Braintree Council have been supporting Essex Police and Essex search and rescue with a search around the Bocking area and continue to liaise with the Braintree community policing team to support where we can.
“We're unable to comment further as it's an ongoing investigation Essex Police are encouraging people to contact them if they have any information that can assist with this investigation.”
Mr Richardson’s family have launched a fundraiser to help with the ongoing search for him.
Family member Toni Bunn has launched a GoFundMe page hoping to raise £3,000 in the hope of continuing their searches and keeping Martyn "in people's minds" as they are "determined" to bring him home.
She wrote: "The police searches are slowing but as a family, we are determined to continue searching for Martyn to bring him home, we want to raise as much awareness locally as we can and keep Martyn in people's minds and are therefore planning greater visibly in the local area with posters, banners and advertising which will have an associated cost. The funds raised will be used only for the costs incurred in the ongoing search for Martyn.
"If we raise funds that exceed the immediate plan, it will be retained for the future provision of professional fees for experts who may be retained to assist in the search for Martyn and or used to fund any reward for information that may be needed at a later date. In the event that Martyn is found funds will be disbursed to charitable causes close to Martyn's heart to help others."