Exclusive: 'I Was Accused of Abusing My Missing Child by Online Trolls'

Exclusive: 'I Was Accused of Abusing My Missing Child by Cruel Online Trolls'

The charity Missing People is intensifying its campaign to eradicate "tragedy trolling" directed at families of missing individuals, as society's growing fascination with true crime content transforms more internet users into amateur detectives. This disturbing trend sees perpetrators exploiting platforms such as Facebook and TikTok to disseminate abusive, mocking, or sensationalised material, spreading misinformation, baseless accusations, and speculative theories about missing persons cases on social media.

High-Profile Cases Targeted by Online Abuse

Notable missing persons investigations, including those of Nicola Bulley and Madeleine McCann, have been particularly subjected to this vile form of cyberbullying. Missing People, which supports The Mirror's Missed campaign, is now urgently calling for an immediate halt to these harmful practices. Ross Miller, CEO of Missing People, emphasises: "Every missing person deserves attention to aid in locating them. The public plays a crucial role in this effort. However, online sleuths frequently cross a boundary. Some of the content we witness is genuinely despicable."

"Loved ones are reporting trauma, and in some instances, it even disrupts police investigations. This must cease—right now," Miller adds.

—

Wide Pickt banner — collaborative shopping lists app for Telegram, phone mockup with grocery list

Political Support for the Campaign

Melanie Ward, the Labour MP for Cowdenbeath and Kirkcaldy, who actively engages with online harms issues, has endorsed the initiative. Urging individuals to "choose empathy over disinformation," she states: "It is appalling that those who have lost a loved one under such tragic circumstances face vile online abuse. I commend the work of Missing People and The Mirror in raising awareness. Social media algorithms and users hiding behind anonymity thrive on conspiracies and division, inflicting serious emotional damage on targets. Clearly, substantial work remains to address online harm."

Personal Account: Kevin Gosden's Harrowing Experience

Kevin Gosden, a 60-year-old retired speech and language therapist from Doncaster, shares his devastating story. His son, Andrew, disappeared at age 14 on September 14, 2007, last seen exiting King's Cross Station in London. Kevin recounts: "I waved Andrew off to school one Friday morning in September 2007 and never saw my 14-year-old son again. Upon returning from work that evening, his school blazer hung in his room, with no sign of him at home. We searched locally fruitlessly and contacted everyone we knew—nothing. A teacher then informed us he hadn't attended school."

Over that frantic weekend, more details emerged: Andrew had purchased a ticket to London, remembered by a ticket office worker for his youthful appearance, with train passengers also reporting sightings. After CCTV captured him leaving King's Cross Station, he vanished without a trace. Searches, including sonar scans in London's river system, yielded no clues. "When your child goes missing, your world stops. You never truly leave that day," Kevin explains, describing weight loss, a breakdown, and a suicide attempt months later. "It was—and remains—hell. It's every parent's nightmare."

The Agony Amplified by Online Trolling

Kevin notes that while most of the public is kind and helpful, some interactions are unfathomable. Through social media and a website dedicated to Andrew, he has faced trolls accusing him of horrific neglect and abuse, with comments like "well his dad clearly abused him, that's why he left." He also encounters mediums claiming insights, scammers pretending to be Andrew, and individuals alleging knowledge of his son's fate, often with mental health issues.

"I block and delete comments when they appear, but it's mental torture," Kevin says. Endless discussion threads speculate on Andrew's whereabouts, and AI-generated fakes have emerged, including one falsely quoting Kevin stating his son's body was found, necessitating a police denial. "The danger is people believe it, so they stop looking for him," he warns.

Pickt after-article banner — collaborative shopping lists app with family illustration

Appeal for Kindness and Responsibility

Kevin fully supports Missing People's new campaign and personally appeals for online kindness: "Think about what you would want posted about you or what would assist your own family. Pause before posting. I urge people to report any clues or concerns to the police, not a family." He describes Andrew as kind, intelligent, witty, and a loving son with no concerning behaviour before his disappearance. "We may never know what happened, but some days I still have hope. Others, I think he'd never have gone this long without contact, so he must be dead. If he's not, I just want to know he's safe, even if he doesn't wish to return. I miss him terribly, just as much today as ever."

Missing People's Demands and Pledge

Missing People, representing the 170,000 individuals who go missing annually in the UK, calls on content creators to sign a pledge on their website: "I pledge to support Missing People & Responsible Narratives in treating real stories with real respect." The charity demands that people: