Sussex detectives investigating boy's murder launch fresh appeal on 45th anniversary of his disappearance

Detectives in Sussex have renewed their appeal over the unsolved murder of eight-year-old Vishal Mehrotra, whose remains were found near Rogate in 1982.

Vishal disappeared on 29 July 1981 having disappeared from Upper Richmond Road, Putney, London, on the day of the then Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer’s wedding.

Crimestoppers is now offering a reward of up to £20,000 for anonymous information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible.

Metropolitan Police carried out a thorough missing persons enquiry over several months until Vishal’s remains were found in Alder Copse, a wooded area near the village of Rogate, on 21 February 1982. It then became a murder investigation, led by Sussex Police, working closely with the Met.

Despite extensive enquiries and multiple investigative reviews taking place since that time, the case remains unsolved.

Detective Chief Inspector Mark Cullimore, senior investigating officer, 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 enquiry – including those raised in documentaries and podcasts – 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 technology, and we have conducted two comprehensive reviews to identify any other viable enquiries that should be completed.

“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 sister, Mamta Mehrotra, paid tribute to her brother, saying: “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 news, 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 years have brought no answers, only countless questions. What happened in those missing hours and days? Was there something someone saw but never realised was important? Has someone carried a memory, a conversation, or a secret all these years without knowing it could help?

“The hardest part of living with an unsolved murder is that there is no ending. Time moves forward, but the questions remain. Every anniversary brings the same thoughts, the same 'what ifs', and the same hope that one day we may finally learn the truth.

“Vishal has never been forgotten. He lives on in our memories, in our conversations, and in the determination of those who continue to seek justice for him. We owe it to the little boy who never came home.

“If you know anything, no matter how small or insignificant it may seem, please come forward. A detail that means nothing to you could mean everything to us.

“After all these years, one piece of information could finally provide the answers our family has waited a lifetime to hear. Please help us bring the truth about those responsible for taking Vishal from us into the light.”

Annabelle Goodenough, Regional Manager for South Central East at the charity Crimestoppers, said: “This is a heartbreaking case that has left Vishal’s family without answers for far too long. As we mark 45 years since he went missing, we are urging anyone who may hold information, or who may not have spoken about what happened yet, to share what they know with Crimestoppers.”

Anyone with information about what happened to Vishal is urged to report it to Sussex Police online or via 101, quoting Operation Moor. Information can also be uploaded to police via the online Major Incident Public Portal (MIPP) or by following the QR code below.

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