JONATHAN MARQUES - Aged 15 years - Whitley, Reading (UK)

BBC News

14 January 2009

Major Crime Team search for boy

A major crime team has been drafted in to search the home of a teenage boy missing from Berkshire since last week.

Despite extensive investigations and searches Jonathan Marques, 15, has not been seen since leaving his home in Whitley, Reading, on 6 January.
Police said officers would now search his home as that was where he was last seen, but stressed it was part of their "standard practice".
On Sunday, more than 30 volunteers helped detectives search for Jonathan.
Police scoured marshland near Island Road while the volunteers handed out leaflets in Southcote Lane while wearing T-shirts printed with Jonathan's picture.
'Release him'
Det Ch Insp Stan Gilmour said: "The next stage of the investigation into Jonathan's disappearance is to carry out some more in-depth searches.
"One of these searches will take place at the family home and I would stress that this is simply standard practice. His home is the last place that we can verify where he was."
The teenager was last seen leaving home to go to Blessed Hugh Faringdon Catholic School but he never arrived and has not been seen since.
"We remain keen to speak to anyone who thinks that they may have seen Jonathan last Tuesday morning as he made his way to school," Det Ch Insp Gilmour added.
Last week, Jonathan's father made an appeal for his missing son to come home or anyone who has him to "release him".
Menino Marques said he needed to know his son was safe and his mother wanted to hear his voice again.
Jonathan is described as having braces on his teeth and was wearing his school uniform, which includes a maroon sweatshirt and dark trousers.
He was also wearing a grey-coloured hooded top and was carrying a dark-coloured rucksack.

Poster Picture: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/berkshire/7829360.stm

Reading Chronicle

15 January 2009

Computers taken in search for teen


POLICE have taken away family computers after searching missing teenager Jonathan Marques’ home until late last night.

The teenager badly wanted to return to the family’s native home in Goa and had been keeping a packed suitcase containing his belongings in his room for several days before he disappeared on Tuesday last week.
Family friend Evan Correra said: “He was constantly saying to them he wanted to go to Goa. They said they knew that he had packed a few things. He packed his suitcase a few days back.
“His bags were packed and everything was in place. There was one big suitcase and a handbag and that morning he brushed his teeth and packed his toothbrush as well.
“He had £100 on his card but he left it in the living room. The only thing he had was the school bag and even the family don’t know what was in there - probably chocolate and juice.”
The family left Goa three years ago and had recently agreed to holiday there in August for what would be their first visit home.
Jonathan, 15, left the house in Bamburgh Close, Whitley, at 8.30am last Tuesday and did not take his passport or his phone, which was also removed for examination by police, who searched the house last night until 11pm.
He did not arrive at Blessed Hugh Faringdon School in Fawley Road, Southcote, sparking a massive search that continues with door-to-door inquiries today.
Jonathan is slim and 5ft tall, with untidy black hair and braces on his teeth. He was last seen wearing his school uniform of maroon jumper and black trousers and carrying a dark ruck-sack and grey hooded top.
Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 08458 505505 quoting URN 406 09/01/09 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Family Photo: http://www.readingchronicle.co.uk/articles/1/8538

The Reading Chronicle

16 January 2009

"Shock and disbelief" at school of missing teen


PUPILS and staff at missing teenager Jonathan Marques’ school are in a state of “shock and disbelief” at his disappearance – which was only discovered when his father called the school.
The 15-year-old should have been at Blessed Hugh Faringdon School in Southcote at 8.40am on Tuesday last week for registration.
But he only left home in Whitley at 8.30am and when dad Menino Marques saw he had left his bus fare behind, he called the school at 1.30pm to check on his son and found he had not arrived.
The Fawley Road school’s acting headteacher Tony Schular said: “He wasn’t present for registration and what happens is during the morning they do a check on the first lesson to see if they have arrived. By mid-morning a list of who is not in school would be available for people to phone up. We aim to get in touch by mid-morning or lunchtime.

Blessed Hugh Faringdon School in Southcote
“The office was just about to phone when Mr Marques phoned up to enquire whether he was in school.”
Reading Borough Council spokesman Chris Branagan said: “Our schools have their own policies for ensuring and improving attendance. We work very closely with them to support and, if necessary, improve these policies.
“We expect our schools to call parents on the first day of their child’s absence, as recommended nationally.”
Jonathan went missing on the first day back after the Christmas break and Mr Schular said none of his fellow students had met him during the holidays. He also revealed that, as a year 11 student, Jonathan was due to take Science GCSEs on Monday and yesterday (Wednesday).
Mr Schular added: “He is a very quiet boy and this behaviour is very out of character.
“We’ve had prayers during assemblies and thought about him and his family, and prayed for those in the search for him.
“The biggest feelings are shock and disbelief. Obviously we are very concerned that there is still no news.”
Parents have been putting up posters in their cars and Pamela Monteiro, 40, the landlady of The Bugle pub in the town centre, who lives in west Reading and has an 11-year-old daughter in year seven at the school, said: “I feel worried for the boy. It has been a week and it has been very cold and to have heard nothing about where he is, is very bad.”
A Tilehurst mum with daughters at the school in years seven, eight and ten, who did not want to give her name, added: “They were upset over it because they know the lad – he’s a nice lad.
“I put a poster on my car because you never know who might see it.”
Jonathan’s family and friends have been putting up more posters around the area and Hayley Clarke, 22, who lives nearby in Southcote Lane, said: “Like everybody else I hoped he had just run away for a little while and that nothing bad had happened to him. I think that’s what your first reaction is when a teenager goes missing, but now a week has passed and it is a bit worrying.”

* anyone in Reading or nearby that can help?

Poster on Missing People Website:

http://www.missingpeople.org.uk/areyoumissing/missing/detail.asp?dsid=2104

The Reading Chronicle

19 January 2009

Reconstruction of teen's last known walk


Missing teenager Jonathan Marques

A BOY who looks like missing teenager Jonathan Marques will help police create a reconstruction of his last known movements tomorrow.
It will be exactly two weeks since the 15-year-old left his home in Whitley and police hope it will open up a new lead in the search.

Det Insp David Hubbard, from Loddon Valley Major Crime team, said: “We want to jog people’s memory, especially those who may have been driving or walking their usual route to work exactly two weeks ago.
“The focus is around the busy Rose Kiln Lane area which is where we believe he was last seen. We want to particularly appeal to people who may have been using this route a fortnight ago to come forward with any information.
“By reconstructing Jonathan’s movements on the morning he went missing, we may generate more sightings and fresh leads to follow.”
Police officers will walk next to the actor and carry pictures of Jonathan, who left his home in Bamburgh Close on Tuesday, January 6, but did not arrive at school and has not been seen since.
The reconstruction walk will start at 8.30am and head towards Blessed Hugh Faringdon School in Fawley Road, Southcote. The school was searched on Saturday but no new information came to light.
Also on Saturday, family and friends held a service for Jonathan at St James Catholic church in Reading town centre before holding a mass walk along his school route.
Today, police divers were forced to abandon their plan to search the Kennet and Avon canal near the Oracle because of strong currents but a boat went out and more searches are planned.
Anyone who thinks they may have seen Jonathan since Tuesday, January 6, is asked to contact police urgently on 0845 850 5505, quoting URN 1191 06/01/09. Alternatively call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

http://www.readingchronicle.co.uk/articles/1/8630

HoldtheFrontPage.co.UK

16 January 2009

Paper turns to Facebook to help find Missing Teen

http://www.holdthefrontpage.co.uk/news/090116missing.shtml

BBC News

25 January 2009

Friends carry on search for boy

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/berkshire/7849794.stm

SKY NEWS

26 January 2009

Missing Teen: Body Found In Lock

http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/UK-News/Missing-Teen-Police-Searching-For-Jonathan-Marques-From-Reading-Have-Found-A-Body-In-A-Lock/Article/200901415210724


Not the outcome I was expecting!
My thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends while they await confirmation of identity.

oh wow Twiggy, I know we await confirmation but very sad news for some family.An investigation to follow too. Thoughts with them right now. It is amazing how a stranger really can affect you. Hoping not too long a wait for the family.

PLEASE BEWARE THIS IS VERY SAD

Get Reading UK

27 January 2009

Marques Family pay respects to Jonathan

http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/s/2043742_marques_family_pay_respects_to_jonathan

Reading Evening Post

28 Jan 2009

Body found in lock confirmed as Jonathan Marques

http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/s/2043847_body_found_in_lock_confirmed_as_jonathan__marques


And

BBC News

28 Jan 2009

Body find is that of missing boy

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/berkshire/7856622.stm

RIP Jonathan

RIP Jonathon.

I am very sorry for your family & friends.

I see Jonathon's case is still listed on Missing Kids website. I hope it gets removed asap.

RIP Jonathon. May the angels keep you safe.