Zoe Ann Sullivan, the mother of 21-year-old Jack Sullivan, has described her son's death as a "mother's worst nightmare" as detectives appeal for information about a pair of blue Louis Vuitton trainers worth approximately £1,000 that he was wearing when he was kidnapped.
Attack and Death
Jack Sullivan was found seriously injured in a car park in Cheshunt, Hertfordshire, on June 22 after being kidnapped from Waltham Abbey in Epping Forest, Essex. He died in hospital four days later on June 26. Essex Police believe he was viciously attacked during the kidnap, suffering a brain bleed that required surgery and the removal of a section of his skull. He never regained consciousness.
Speaking to the Daily Mail, Ms Sullivan said: "When he was found he was unresponsive. I wasn't allowed to see him when he was in the helicopter. They took him for a scan and he had a brain bleed." She added that his death feels "unbelievable" and "does not feel real at the minute."
Police Appeal for Trainers and Vehicle
Detectives are seeking the missing blue Louis Vuitton trainers, which have not been recovered. Detective Chief Inspector Greg Wood, leading the investigation, said: "The trainers are worth in the region of £1,000 and we believe someone will either be wearing them – perhaps with no knowledge of their prior owner – or attempting to sell them."
Police are also searching for a black Mitsubishi Outlander with false licence plates (registration HY16 FZR), which they believe was used to kidnap and transport Jack before he was dumped in Cheshunt. The vehicle was stolen from an address in Loughton on June 3 and was later abandoned in River Close, near Fishers Close, in Waltham Cross on June 23.
Arrests and Investigation
Three people have been arrested on suspicion of murder and released on conditional bail. Ms Sullivan said she has been told little about the incident as "the people that have murdered my son are still at large." DCI Wood urged anyone with information about the vehicle or the trainers to come forward, stating: "At the heart of this investigation is Jack and his loved ones. We are determined to provide answers for them."
