THE family of Rhys Bonner have paid tribute to the teenager at the spot his body was said to be discovered – only to find out it could be the wrong location.
Regular visits were made by Rhys’ distraught family members to an area of marsh ground between Easterhouse and Gartloch Village following his death.
Rhys' grandfather Stephen
Neighbours, who live near the spot, saw his grandparents leaving floral tributes, and revealed to them that they were at the wrong location.
Rhys’ grandfather Stephen says he was given a map of coordinates by Police Scotland and when he couldn’t make sense of it he begged a local sergeant to show him.
He says he was shown an area close to marsh land which he regularly visited – until those living near the location stepped in.
The area where Stephen believes Rhys' was found
This confusion over where the body was found resulted in the emergence of video footage of what is alleged to show Rhys’ body being dragged across a field.
In the six-second video, which was filmed from behind a neighbours fence, men dressed in red jumpers can be seen dragging what appears to be a body through the area. The family claim that the body is Rhys and the men belong to a Police Scotland search and rescue team.
To add further confusion, the family argue that the location where the video was shot does not match up to the coordinates they were given.
Now the family, who have lodged a complaint with Police Scotland, want to know if the coordinates given by police were in fact wrong or instead reveal that Rhys’ body, claimed to be half-naked, was dragged an estimated 1000ft by officers.
They also want to know want if proper crime procedures were put in place when the teen’s body was found.
His heartbroken mum Stephanie, 36, above, said: “That video is the last thing in my mind every time I close my eyes. Why wasn’t my son treated with dignity? He is only a teenager getting dragged half-naked for everyone to see.
“From what I could see, there was no forensics or nothing, they just dragged the body.
“I showed CID the video that was given to me showing his body being dragged and I felt they dismissed it.”
The mum-of-five added: “The neighbours have told me it has disturbed them what they saw.”
Rhys was just 19 years old when he was reported as a missing person last July. He left his family home in Barlarnark to go meet a friend and never returned.
His body was found weeks later and recently the family say the death was deemed by the Crown Office as unascertained.
The outcome of the Police Scotland investigation was that is death was not suspicious. The force insist that the death was fully investigated.
His mum, however, strongly believes that he was murdered and demands that his death is properly investigated.
She said: “I feel no one is listening to me. There is a killer out there and Rhys deserves justice.”
Devastated Stephanie also paid tribute to her ‘beautiful big giant’.
She said: “He was so kind, I remember when I was pregnant with his younger brother he bought me shower gel because the lady in the shop told him it had something in it that was good to bring labour on.
“Rhys was a beautiful big giant.”
She added: “We have been ripped apart since his death. I had him at 17 so I was a young mum. We listened to music together. He always had music playing. Now the house is quiet and I can’t listen to music again.
“I just want a proper apology and I want someone to look into this police investigation.”
An emotional Stephanie continued: “I miss him so much and I will never see him again.”
Stephanie’s complaint was submitted by No1Seems2Care community campaigner Alex O’Kane.
He said: “I have invested a significant amount of time looking at the details surrounding Rhys’s death and I really believe that the police prematurely decided that this was a non-criminal incident.
“If the body of a half-naked teenage boy was found in an affluent area this investigation would have been handled completely differently, or if the body of a half-naked teenage girl had been discovered under these circumstances this investigation absolutely would not have looked like this.
“Sadly I believe that this is a perfect example of postcode policing, the police discovered Rhys’s body and, most likely, decided it was an overdose or suicide due to the location and gender. In other words, it’s just another boy from a housing scheme. This is completely unacceptable and the police involved have to be held accountable.
“I have lost sleep over this so I can only imagine the pain and anguish that Stephanie and her family are going through. I see Rhys as being one of our own and his family deserves answers and accountability.”
Chief Inspector Patrick Murphy, Greater Glasgow Division, said: “Rhys’ death was fully investigated by a dedicated team of officers who established no criminality. A report was submitted to the Crown and Procurator Fiscal Service.
“We are in regular contact with his family to keep them updated on any new information and keeping them fully informed is a priority for us.
“A complaint about the police has been received from Rhys’ mother, therefore we are unable to comment further at this stage.”
A Crown Office spokesman added: “The Procurator Fiscal received a report in connection with the death of a 19-year-old man on 8 August 2019.
“The investigation into the death, under the direction of Scottish Fatalities Investigation Unit (SFIU), has concluded and no further investigation is required.
“Family members have been kept updated.”
What happened to Rhys?
THE heartbroken family of Rhys Bonner have been asking for answers over what happened to the teenager since last Summer.
Here is a timeline of events leading up to the complaint that was recently submitted to Police Scotland.
July 24, 2019
Rhys left his home to meet a friend. The last confirmed sighting of Rhys was around 7.55pm on the day he vanished at shops in Connisborough Road, Easterhouse. Police at the time said they were speaking to witnesses and reviewing CCTV footage during their search.
July 26, 2019
Rhys is officially reported to Police Scotland as a missing person. His mother Stephanie uses social media to share his image and urge people to be on the lookout for him.
August 8, 2019
We reported that police had found Rhys' body in marsh ground between Easterhouse and Gartloch Village. The force said that the death was unexplained.
September 12, 2019
The family attends the funeral of their beloved Rhys at Daldowie Crematorium.
January, 2020
Stephanie meets up with Norah Connelly whose son's death is under investigation.
A search was launched for Milton man Johnny, 28 after he failed to return home. He was reported as a missing person on July 15 before his body was recovered from the water at Spiers Wharf on July 22. He had injuries to his head and body. Both women joined forces to raise awareness of their sons stories.
February 2020
Stephanie is told her son's cause of death must be changed to unascertainable by the National Records of Scotland. The letter states that the Scottish Fatalities Investigation Unit informed them of the change.
March 2020
An official complaint is submitted to Police Scotland by the family.
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