Family of teen who went missing left with ‘unanswered questions’ after body found

The family of a Scottish teen who vanished last month before he was found dead have vowed to ‘fight for the truth’.

Cole Cooper, 19, was reported missing on May 9, sparking a nationwide manhunt which saw police speak to more than 400 people.

The teen was seen on CCTV at 6am on May 4 returning home to his dad’s house in Longcroft from a house party, but he failed to get inside.

An old school friend spotted him in the same village three days later.

But a body believed to be of Cole was recovered in a wooded area near Kilsyth Road in Falkirk on Friday.

In a missing person Facebook group set up by his family, his aunt Aimee Tennie said on Sunday that the family are in a ‘living nightmare’.

She said: ‘Cole. Our boy. We fought for you for almost five weeks. Why? How? So many questions… and still, no answers.

‘With shattered hearts, we share the devastating news that our beloved Cole, who was missing, has been found – but not in the way we hoped or prayed for.

‘Our worst fears have become reality, and we are now living a nightmare we can’t wake up from.

‘We never gave up, and we will never give up – not until we have the answers. The fight for truth, for justice, and for Cole is not over.’

She said that support from the group’s 29,600 members during the ‘horrendous’ experience ‘meant more than words can ever say’.

Tennie added:‘Your support through this horrendous experience has. Every message, every shared post, every act of kindness – your generosity and compassion carried us through our darkest moments.

‘We will never forget it.’

Cops reviewed over 2,000 hours of CCTV footage during their search for the teen.

Police said: ‘Formal identification has yet to take place, however, the family of missing man Cole Cooper, 19, has been informed.’

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