Lee Boxell was just 15 years old when he was last seen on Saturday 10th September 1988. The teenager lived in Cheam, Sutton in south London. Rumours and speculation have shrouded his disappearance, and, to this day, it remains a mystery about exactly what happened to him.
Crimestoppers has today – on what would have been his 49th birthday – launched an appeal for anonymous information, pledging to pay up to £20,000 to anyone who passes on vital information.
Lee was described as caring, good mannered, trustworthy and sensitive. He was an avid football fan and, at the time, attended Cheam High School. His parents, Peter and Christine, have kept his bedroom exactly how it was on the day he went missing. Despite significant coverage speculating that Lee was making his way to watch Crystal Palace play, there is no evidence to prove this.
***To support police with their investigation, charity Crimestoppers is offering a reward of up to £20,000 payable for information Crimestoppers exclusively receives – either online at Crimestoppers-uk.org or by calling freephone 0800 555 111 – that leads to the arrest & conviction of those linked to Lee’s suspected murder***
Alexa Loukas, London Regional Manager, at the charity Crimestoppers, said: “For decades, Lee’s disappearance and the suspicious circumstances surrounding what really happened to him, have haunted his family, friends and the wider community. It shocked everyone at the time and continues to do so to this very day.
“It may be that people who were teenagers at the time know what happened to him and have kept this secret for years. Maybe they are too scared to speak up about the tragedy, but with our guarantee of anonymity – which we’ve always kept – they now have the opportunity to do the right thing. We’re appealing for information that can solve this crime and help Lee’s family finally bring him home to rest.”
Peter Boxell, father of Lee, said: “We’re desperate for someone to come forward and tell us what happened to Lee which may ultimately help find his remains if he was murdered as we fear. There have been appeals for information over the years, but with Crimestoppers you can speak up completely anonymously. Once you’ve given your information you need never have any further involvement with anyone about the case. Crimestoppers can’t identify who you are and will never ever ask or take any personal details from you. So, this really does give someone a chance to do the right thing and help ease our years of pain. We can then see Lee finally laid to rest.
“If you know where he may be, or have any information, please don’t keep it to yourself anymore. Tell the charity Crimestoppers what you know anonymously so that my wife and I can say goodbye to our beloved son before it’s too late for us. It’s a race against time now we’re in our 70s – but you can help us, and his sister, niece and nephew finally know what happened and have some closure -so please, do what’s right.”
Crimestoppers’ Alexa Loukas added: “We are here for anyone who feels unable to speak directly to the police. As we’re independent, we offer a safe and secure option when reporting crime. Our charity was formed in the year that Lee was last seen and since then, we have always kept our promise of anonymity to the millions who have trusted us with their crime information.
“If you know something about this suspected murder, no matter how small, please contact us. What you tell us can make all the difference. You can call our UK Contact Centre, which is open 24/7, on freephone 0800 555 111 or you can use our simple and secure anonymous online form at www.crimestoppers-uk.org. Nobody will know you contacted us and you’ll be doing the right thing for Lee and his family after all these years.”
