"Why do so many people disappear in Bristol?". That is what I asked my flatmate when I read that a 16-year-old girl called Rebecca Watts had disappeared around two weeks ago.
As far as I can remember, there have been several cases of people disappearing in the last few months. In December, Bristol got shocked with a woman and her baby disappearing from the St. Michael's Hospital (read here) just after she had the baby. Some days later, after an extensive search, baby and mom were found dead in the Avon Gorge. At the end of February, a Bristol boxing promoter Michael Graydon travelled to Monaco to see a fight but he missed the event and his flight home. He is still missing. And two weeks ago, it was Rebecca Watts.
Newspapers made a fuss of Rebecca Watts disappearance, converting the tragic news into some kind of insensitive soap opera episodes. At first, they have insinuated that his father's had some kind of responsibility of her disappearance. They shamelessly published a strange message that appeared on his Facebook profile without even checking it was genuine. Then, we all realised that the account had been hacked. After that, they started to publish every single detail on the case for the sake of morbidity. Today, they published names, last names and pictures of 5 people who are being questioned by the police. Where is the presumption of innocence? It is a very sensitive investigation and newspapers such as the Bristol Post and Mirror are treating the case without any kind of humanity and respect for Becky's family.
My whole body was shaking on Monday when I read that the police had found cut up body parts in Rebecca Watts' step-brother's house and stated that the 28-year-old got arrested on suspicion of her murder. I knew at that time that the chances of her being alive were very low but... chopped up? Seriously? There are many sick people in the world. His partner, a 21-year-old woman, is also accused of perverting the course of justice and was also remanded in custody. Five other people are being questioned at the moment in relationship of the case and these are the names Bristol Post published before the police even did any statement.
Friends, acquaintances and people in general are contributing with their grain of sand to make something good of this tragedy. Flowers and tributes have been piling up where her remains were found and two fundraising campaigns had been set up (here and here) which have already raised more than £8500 altogether to give financial support to the family. I'd rather donate this money to an organisation which treats mental illnesses because anybody in their right mind would do such a despicable thing.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: picture taken from Independent.co.uk (link)
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