On Sunday 03 March 1986, while on his way back home from a nearby shop, 16-year-old Kevin Hicks disappeared in the Addiscombe area of Croydon in South London.
He hasn't been seen, or heard from, since.
Before Kevin disappeared he seemed happy, there were no troubling issues at his school and he applied for some jobs a week before he vanished.
Sunday 03 March 1986 was an uneventful day for Kevin and his family
At approximately 20:30, Kevin Hicks noted he needed to get some eggs for a Home Economics lesson at his school the next day, after telling his mother, Terry Hicks, he left his Sissinghurst Road home in Addiscombe to make the short walk to a local community shop called Sperrings on Lower Addiscombe Road.
Before Kevin disappeared he seemed happy, there were no troubling issues at his school and he applied for some jobs a week before he vanished.
Sunday 03 March 1986 was an uneventful day for Kevin and his family
At approximately 20:30, Kevin Hicks noted he needed to get some eggs for a Home Economics lesson at his school the next day, after telling his mother, Terry Hicks, he left his Sissinghurst Road home in Addiscombe to make the short walk to a local community shop called Sperrings on Lower Addiscombe Road.
Sperrings on Lower Addiscombe Road | © Crimewatch
According to Google Maps, the route between Sissinghurst Road and Lower Addiscombe Road would take roughly 10 minutes to walk there.
The full journey on foot - there and back - is approximately 0.8 of a mile.
This could be done in less than half an hour.
The full journey on foot - there and back - is approximately 0.8 of a mile.
This could be done in less than half an hour.
Kevin's Sissinghurst Road home | © BBC / Crimewatch UK
Kevin only had £1 in cash on him.
An hour and a half later, the last confirmed sighting of Kevin Hicks was made.
Somebody who knew Kevin saw him at roughly 22:00 on Shirley Road and according to this witness, it appeared like Kevin was heading in the direction of Sissinghurst Road.
This visual evidence is significant because not only is it the last confirmed sighting of Kevin, Shirley Road is not the shortest route if someone was to walk back to Sissinghurst Road from Lower Addiscombe Road and it is a little out the way - especially on foot.
An hour and a half later, the last confirmed sighting of Kevin Hicks was made.
Somebody who knew Kevin saw him at roughly 22:00 on Shirley Road and according to this witness, it appeared like Kevin was heading in the direction of Sissinghurst Road.
This visual evidence is significant because not only is it the last confirmed sighting of Kevin, Shirley Road is not the shortest route if someone was to walk back to Sissinghurst Road from Lower Addiscombe Road and it is a little out the way - especially on foot.
It's unclear as to what compelled Kevin to add unnecessary walking distance to his journey.
No reason has ever been established as to why Kevin was on Shirley Road.
Did he fancy a walk to clear his mind of the Home Economics school project the next day or was the teenager encouraged to meet somebody, perhaps under the pretense of a lift home?
Almost four months after Kevin's disappearance, Metropolitan Police turned to Crimewatch UK in the hope that BBC One's viewers would hold key information and take their investigations several steps further as the case did not receive much publicity outside of London and it's possible Kevin could be anywhere in Britain.
Superintendent David Hatcher appealed on Metropolitan Police's behalf by asking for the public's assistance during his esteemed Incident Desk segment.
Superintendent Hatcher noted that recently before the schoolboy's disappearance, he bought expensive stereo equipment and would be unlikely to leave that behind.
On the night of Kevin's disappearance, he was wearing:
The Crimewatch UK appeal failed to yield any new leads or lines of enquiry and the investigation of Kevin Hicks' disappearance was wound down but remained open if any new evidence came to light and it is still an active case today.
Apart from Friday 25 October 1996, someone telephoned local newspaper Croydon Advertiser and said they knew where Kevin's body was. Police asked for this person to call again but never did.
Did he fancy a walk to clear his mind of the Home Economics school project the next day or was the teenager encouraged to meet somebody, perhaps under the pretense of a lift home?
Almost four months after Kevin's disappearance, Metropolitan Police turned to Crimewatch UK in the hope that BBC One's viewers would hold key information and take their investigations several steps further as the case did not receive much publicity outside of London and it's possible Kevin could be anywhere in Britain.
Superintendent David Hatcher appealed on Metropolitan Police's behalf by asking for the public's assistance during his esteemed Incident Desk segment.
Superintendent Hatcher noted that recently before the schoolboy's disappearance, he bought expensive stereo equipment and would be unlikely to leave that behind.
On the night of Kevin's disappearance, he was wearing:
- Red, white, and black, bomber jacket
- Denim jeans
- Red and white Hi Tec trainers
The Crimewatch UK appeal failed to yield any new leads or lines of enquiry and the investigation of Kevin Hicks' disappearance was wound down but remained open if any new evidence came to light and it is still an active case today.
Apart from Friday 25 October 1996, someone telephoned local newspaper Croydon Advertiser and said they knew where Kevin's body was. Police asked for this person to call again but never did.
In 2011, an Age Progression image was released of Kevin as a 33-year-old.
He probably won't have changed much - is that someone you know?
He probably won't have changed much - is that someone you know?
Kevin's parents, Derek and Terry Hicks, continued to appeal for Kevin Hicks to return home or anyone to come forward with new details that would explain their son's disappearance, however they passed away before Metropolitan Police revisited the case in 2016, without ever knowing what happened to their son.
In December 2016, Metropolitan Police made a fresh appeal for information into Kevin Hicks' disappearance, this followed a review of the investigation earlier that year.
The Homicide and Major Crime Command took on the investigation and a Detective Inspector explained he and his team believe Kevin has been murdered.
Detective Inspector John McQuade, said:
"Kevin simply disappeared that night and was never seen nor heard of again. We can only imagine what the intervening years must have been like for his family, years of worry and distress at not knowing what happened. Sadly, both his parents died without ever discovering the truth. Many enquiries have been carried out over the years but Kevin's body has never been found but there is no evidence he is still alive. We believe Kevin must have met someone that night, been assaulted and his body disposed of. A substantial reward is on offer for anyone with information leading to the discovery of Kevin's body or the prosecution of the person or people responsible for his murder. I hope this will encourage anyone with information – no matter how small you think that piece of information might be – to come forward as soon as possible. We believe Kevin must have met someone in that hour-and-a-half and that person attacked him. Perhaps the suspect didn’t mean to kill him but it is clear Kevin's body must have then been disposed of. On 25 October 1996, following media appeals, someone anonymously called the Croydon Advertiser and said she knew where Kevin's body was. We would appeal for that person to come forward and contact us again; you may have really important information for us. I truly believe people in the local Croydon community hold the answers to what happened to Kevin."
Since 2016, Metropolitan Police have offered an award of £20,000 for any details that will help them either locate Kevin safe and well, or learn what happened to him on the night he disappeared.
Speaking in 2016, Kevin's only living relative - his sister Alexandra - gave a statement.
Alexandra Hicks, said:
"Christmas is always a particularly hard time of the year, especially now both my parents are gone. It would be the best Christmas present to have Kevin back or to know what has happened to him. With Kevin and I being only a year and a day apart with our birthdays, the month of February is a constant reminder of not knowing where he is or what has happened to him. On 2 March 2017 it will be 31 years since Kevin went missing and I appeal to anyone with any information, no matter how small, to come forward and assist police with their investigation. Someone somewhere knows something. It is time to let go of that secret."
She has since moved away from Croydon and is now living in Hastings, Sussex.
As of press time, Kevin Hicks hasn't been seen for 14,209 days.
In December 2016, Metropolitan Police made a fresh appeal for information into Kevin Hicks' disappearance, this followed a review of the investigation earlier that year.
The Homicide and Major Crime Command took on the investigation and a Detective Inspector explained he and his team believe Kevin has been murdered.
Detective Inspector John McQuade, said:
"Kevin simply disappeared that night and was never seen nor heard of again. We can only imagine what the intervening years must have been like for his family, years of worry and distress at not knowing what happened. Sadly, both his parents died without ever discovering the truth. Many enquiries have been carried out over the years but Kevin's body has never been found but there is no evidence he is still alive. We believe Kevin must have met someone that night, been assaulted and his body disposed of. A substantial reward is on offer for anyone with information leading to the discovery of Kevin's body or the prosecution of the person or people responsible for his murder. I hope this will encourage anyone with information – no matter how small you think that piece of information might be – to come forward as soon as possible. We believe Kevin must have met someone in that hour-and-a-half and that person attacked him. Perhaps the suspect didn’t mean to kill him but it is clear Kevin's body must have then been disposed of. On 25 October 1996, following media appeals, someone anonymously called the Croydon Advertiser and said she knew where Kevin's body was. We would appeal for that person to come forward and contact us again; you may have really important information for us. I truly believe people in the local Croydon community hold the answers to what happened to Kevin."
Since 2016, Metropolitan Police have offered an award of £20,000 for any details that will help them either locate Kevin safe and well, or learn what happened to him on the night he disappeared.
Speaking in 2016, Kevin's only living relative - his sister Alexandra - gave a statement.
Alexandra Hicks, said:
"Christmas is always a particularly hard time of the year, especially now both my parents are gone. It would be the best Christmas present to have Kevin back or to know what has happened to him. With Kevin and I being only a year and a day apart with our birthdays, the month of February is a constant reminder of not knowing where he is or what has happened to him. On 2 March 2017 it will be 31 years since Kevin went missing and I appeal to anyone with any information, no matter how small, to come forward and assist police with their investigation. Someone somewhere knows something. It is time to let go of that secret."
She has since moved away from Croydon and is now living in Hastings, Sussex.
As of press time, Kevin Hicks hasn't been seen for 14,209 days.
The Missing People charity are continuing to work on a safe return home for Kevin or any information on his whereabouts.
If you know any details that would help Missing People, Metropolitan Police, and (more importantly) his sister Alexandra, please call 116000 or email [email protected].
Alternatively you can call the independent charity CrimeStoppers on 0800555111.
There is a £20,000 reward for information that will help Metropolitan Police solve this case.
If you know any details that would help Missing People, Metropolitan Police, and (more importantly) his sister Alexandra, please call 116000 or email [email protected].
Alternatively you can call the independent charity CrimeStoppers on 0800555111.
There is a £20,000 reward for information that will help Metropolitan Police solve this case.
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