Police have officially closed the criminal investigation into the disappearance of Alex Batty, a teenage boy who went missing while on vacation with his grandparents in Spain in 2017. The decision was made after exhaustive efforts to locate Alex yielded no new leads or evidence.
Alex Batty, who was 12 years old at the time of his disappearance, was last seen on September 26, 2017, in the resort town of Benahavís on the Costa del Sol. His grandparents, who were his legal guardians, reported him missing when he failed to return from a day out with his father, who lives in Spain.
The investigation into Alex’s disappearance was complex and involved cooperation between British and Spanish authorities. Extensive searches were conducted in the area where he was last seen, and appeals for information were made in both countries. Despite these efforts, no trace of Alex was found, leading police to believe that he may have been taken out of the country.
In a statement, Detective Inspector Lee Gosling, who led the investigation, said, “We have followed up numerous leads and conducted extensive inquiries, but unfortunately, we have been unable to locate Alex or establish what happened to him. We have made the difficult decision to close the criminal investigation, but we will continue to support Alex’s family and provide any assistance they may need.”
Alex’s family has expressed their disappointment at the news but remains hopeful that he will be found. His mother, Melanie Batty, said, “We are devastated that the investigation has been closed without finding Alex. We will never give up hope of finding him and bringing him home.”
The case of Alex Batty’s disappearance remains a mystery, and his family continues to appeal for information from anyone who may have knowledge of his whereabouts. Despite the official closure of the criminal investigation, the search for Alex will not stop until he is found and reunited with his loved ones.