Private Investigator Suggests Abduction in Missing Man Case

A private investigator, hired by the family of a man who vanished 11 months ago, suggests that he may have been abducted and subjected to harm. The investigator was engaged to ascertain the circumstances of his disappearance. Richard Locker, aged 53, was last observed on CCTV on January 5 2024, during the early hours, in Mill Lane, Torquay, Devon, moving in the direction of his parked van. Mick Randall, the private investigator, is preparing to submit a report to law enforcement. Concurrently, Mr. Locker’s family has lodged a complaint with the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) regarding the management of the investigation. Devon and Cornwall Police issued a statement, saying: “We are aware of a complaint being made to the force, via the IOPC. We are now assessing it. It would be inappropriate to comment further at this time.” Mr. Randall stated: “There is evidence to suggest that he was threatened by individuals”. He added: “There is information to suggest that those individuals are connected to an organised crime group in Manchester or certainly the North. He had been threatened and his life was in danger.” Mr. Randall further elaborated: “He made that known to a number of people. He also made it known that he was going to the police and talk about his concerns in relation to the criminality, and there’s further information to suggest that the organised crime group knew that that was going to happen. I believe that he was picked up and abducted,”. The former Metropolitan Police detective affirmed that there is no indication that Mr. Locker, who is from Paignton, was personally involved in any criminal activity. Sharon Molloy, Richard’s fiancee, expressed her distress, stating: “It’s been horrible.” She continued: “Everyday, every night, it’s just heart-breaking not knowing where he is.” Ms. Molloy also commented: “We need to do this. The police gave up. They gave up a few weeks into Rich being missing. “We’ve had no help from them whatsoever at all.”