Disappearance of Andrew Gosden

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Disappearance of Andrew Gosden

Andrew Paul Gosden was a 14-year-old boy from Doncaster, England. On 14 September 2007, he disappeared after travelling alone to Central London. That morning he left home for school, withdrew £200 from his bank, briefly returned to change his clothes, and then left again without telling his family. He was last seen on CCTV at London King’s Cross station. Despite large-scale searches and appeals, his whereabouts remain unknown.

Background
- Andrew was a bright student at The McAuley Catholic High School in Doncaster and was part of a program for gifted students. He was expected to achieve high GCSE grades.
- He enjoyed maths, video games, and heavy metal music. Family described him as shy and independent, often staying at home.
- He wore glasses, was deaf in his left ear, and had distinctive features in his ears. He liked wearing a Slipknot T-shirt and carried a patched bag.

What happened that day
- Morning: Around 8:05 am, Andrew left home for his usual bus stop, went to an ATM, and withdrew £200 (there was about £214 in his account, but the ATM only allowed £20 increments).
- He was seen returning home briefly, then left again with his wallet, keys, and a PSP (PlayStation Portable). He did not take a coat or passport.
- At about 8:30 am, he left the house for the last time, headed toward Doncaster railway station, and bought a one-way train ticket to London for £31.40, insisting on a single ticket even though a return was only 50p more.
- He boarded the train to London and was seen at King’s Cross station around 11:20–11:25 am. This was the last confirmed sighting.

Investigation and sightings
- A large search followed, with family members helping and police investigating. The family says CCTV footage beyond King’s Cross was not requested early on, and several reported sightings (for example, at a Pizza Hut on Oxford Street or Covent Garden) were not pursued.
- Initial theories included the possibility that Andrew went to London to meet someone online, but there was no evidence he used the internet or had online accounts on his devices.
- Police checked computers at school and the library, but forensics found no activity linking Andrew to online actions. The only personal device left behind was his PSP, which showed no online use.
- Dozens of sightings were reported across Britain, but none could be verified. There were later arrests in 2021 and 2022 related to the case, but those individuals were released, and investigators have not concluded they were involved.

Aftermath and ongoing appeals
- Andrew’s family has continued to push for information. Age-progressed images have been released to show what he might look like as he aged.
- Public campaigns, including partnerships with Missing People and appearances in media, keep the case in the public eye.
- Over the years, investigators and Andrew’s family have explored many possible explanations, including the idea that he might have run away, wanted to reinvent himself, or traveled to London for sightseeing or other activities. However, no credible evidence has emerged to explain his disappearance.

Current status
- Andrew Gosden remains missing. There have been arrests in connection with the case, but as of the latest updates, no one has been charged with his disappearance, and his whereabouts are unknown.