Mother of missing student Jack O’Sullivan enlisted private help in search for son

The mother of missing student, Jack O’Sullivan, has hired private search dog teams after there has still been no trace of her son.

They have identified a renewed area of interest, whilst also facing continued “blackmail” from a troll.

Catherine O’Sullivan, 52, has been critical of the handling of the case by Avon and Somerset Police and feels she needs to look elsewhere for help finding her son, who went missing after a night out in Bristol six months ago.

Jack was last seen in the early hours of Saturday, March 2nd on his way home from a party. He seemingly disappeared without a trace near Brunel Way, Bristol, four miles from his family home. Catherine has disclosed that the specialist dog teams have visited Bristol three times and they have “searched logical areas on Jack’s route home.”

Catherine explained that she had hired teams of search dogs and they became “agitated” at a particular location on the A370 bypass. Catherine stated this was an “area of concern” and she has informed the police. She described it as “really hard to access and the traffic is fast flowing.”

Catherine claimed it took police a week since being alerted to Jack’s disappearance to contact Catherine with the news that they would investigate the disappearance further. She has said she is “aghast” at the ambiguity of the investigation.

She also commented that the scale of support from the community has been overwhelming, this comes after a series of petitions to encourage more vigilant efforts to find Jack. However, Catherine continues to be targeted by a troll who is “blackmailing” her and demanding a ransom for information.

CCTV showing the last confirmed sighting of Jack. Credit: SWNS

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She has reported the individual to the police but says she received another message from the individual on Wednesday, 18th September.

She added: “I have forwarded the details to the police. I don’t believe what they say, but he is demanding money for answers. That is blackmail and extortion.

“It seriously needs looking at. Not that they know anything but what they are doing is so bad.

“He told me today he was not happy I had gone to the police. So they must have contacted him but he still feels the need to contact me again. I’ve blocked his phone number but he is sending me stuff via Facebook again.

“I am half leaving open the lines of communication to gather evidence against him.”

Regarding this harassment, the police said: “We have requested the O’Sullivans share with us the communications and details of the person so that we can carry out enquiries relating to this.”

Avon and Somerset police have reported that over 20 teams have been involved in the investigation into Jack’s disappearance. They have received help from the fire service, ambulance service and the RNLI.

Further, they have said they have viewed more than 100 hours of CCTV, searched the river for 200+ hours, and conducted 40 land searches. Joanne Hall, the Assistant Chief constable dealing with the case stated: “Our staff and officers remain committed to doing everything we can to find Jack.”

A spokesperson has said: “Detectives met with the family last Monday (9th September) at their home to discuss the investigation as well as any areas of concern or questions the family had.

“During this meeting, the family explained a search had been carried out by a volunteer specialist search dog in an area of the A370 which had ‘shown an interest’.

“Officers requested a copy of the report so that they could look and consider searching this area, as it is outside the established search area and there has been no video evidence of Jack in that area.

“The O’Sullivan’s sent this report on Monday evening following the meeting.

“On Tuesday (10th Sept), DCI Filippsen responded to the family confirming receipt of the report and advising them he would pass it along to the independent Police Search Advisor (PolSA) to review and consider.

“On Thursday evening (12th Sept), DCI Filippsen confirmed with the family that the report was with the PolSA and plans were being put in place for searches to be carried out.

“On Monday (16th Sept), DCI Filippsen confirmed with the family that we would be deploying the dogs no later than yesterday (Wednesday 18 Sept). Searches have been taking place since Monday.”

It was at this meeting that police became aware Catherine had enlisted the help of private search dog teams.

Avon and Somerset Police has been contacted for comment on the latest appeal to search the bypass.

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Featured image via SNWS.