COPS have launched a fresh appeal to solve the chilling murder of an eight-year-old boy who vanished on the day of Prince Charles and Princess Diana’s wedding.
A £20,000 Crimestoppers reward is still being offered for information that could finally crack the .
Vishal Mehrotra was abducted from Putney, South West London, on July 29, 1981 Credit: Mirrorpix
The eight year old vanished hours after watching the procession Credit: Rex Features
Vishal disappeared from Upper Richmond Road in Putney, South West London, on July 29, 1981, as millions celebrated the royal wedding.
Seven months later his body was found 50 miles away in a wooded area at Alder Copse near Rogate, West Sussex, in February 1982.
No one has ever been charged over his murder.
Today, on the 45th anniversary of his disappearance, detectives renewed their plea for anyone with information to come forward.
Vishal disappeared from Upper Richmond Road in Putney Credit: Channel 4
Vishal Mehrotra disappeared on the day of Charles and Diana’s wedding in 1981 Credit: Channel 4
A Sussex spokesman said: “Detectives investigating the murder of eight-year-old Vishal Mehrotra have launched a fresh appeal for information on the 45th anniversary of his disappearance.
“Vishal was reported missing on July 29 1981 having disappeared from Upper Richmond Road, Putney, London, on the day of the then Charles and Lady Diana Spencer’s wedding.
“ carried out a thorough missing persons inquiry over several months until Vishal’s remains were found in Alder Copse, a wooded area near the village of Rogate, on February 21 1982.
“It then became a murder investigation, led by Sussex , working closely with the Met.
“Despite extensive inquiries and multiple investigative reviews taking place since that time, the case remains unsolved.”
Detective Chief Inspector Mark Cullimore, the senior investigating officer, said Vishal’s family spent decades searching for answers.
He said: “We know Vishal’s murder caused deep shock and heartbreak to his family and that they have spent every day since his disappearance determined to find answers as to what happened to him and who was responsible.
“Over the years, our investigation has fully examined numerous lines of inquiry – including those raised in documentaries and – to try and identify any suspects.
“We have thoroughly explored any new investigative techniques or forensic opportunities that have arisen since 1981 through advancements in , and we have conducted two comprehensive reviews to identify any other viable inquiries that should be completed.
The case was examined in the Channel 4 show In The Footsteps of Killers Credit: Channel 4
Vishal’s remains were found seven months later Credit: Channel 4
“Unfortunately, there remains no evidence to show who was responsible for Vishal’s tragic death.
“We are asking anyone with any information relating to Vishal’s disappearance and murder to please get in touch with us – no matter how small or insignificant you think a piece of information might be, it could be key in helping us get justice for Vishal and provide the answers his family so desperately need and deserve.”
Vishal’s younger sister, Mamta Mehrotra, said the pain of losing her brother had never faded.
She said: “I was only a little girl when my brother Vishal disappeared, but the impact of losing him has stayed with me every day of my life.
“For many people, this case is something they may have seen in the , a documentary, or a podcast.
“For us, Vishal was not a headline. He was a son, a brother, a child with his whole life ahead of him. He was loved, and he is still loved.
“More than four decades have passed, yet we still do not know what happened to him. We still do not know who took him from us or why.”
The £20,000 Crimestoppers reward remains available for information leading detectives to the person responsible for Vishal’s murder.
Officers urged anyone who remembers seeing Vishal on the day he disappeared, or who has any information about his death, to come forward.
They say even the smallest detail could prove vital.
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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