Shaun Ritchie, disappeared October 31, 2014, Strichen, Aberdeenshire, Scotland

On Friday, October 31 into Saturday, November 1, 2014, Shaun Ritchie traveled in a van with a small group of friends on the A981 to a remote farmhouse in the Greenburn area, near Strichen in Scotland. He vanished without a trace from the woodland near the Kirsiehill Farm.

Shaun had been at home that day in Fraserburgh with his family before visiting a convenience store and left with friends to celebrate Halloween.

Later that day, on November 1, two emergency calls were made to police from the Greenburn area, one requesting help and the second canceling the requested help. Who exactly these calls came from is unclear.

It was one of the largest coordinated missing person’s investigations in Scottish history.

After this huge search, only his shoes, hooded top, and belt were found, but Shaun has not been seen since. Medical experts believed he may have become disorientated in freezing conditions and stumbled into a bog. But no remains had been recovered after years of searching.

What happened to Shaun? - murder, hypothermia, accidental drug overdose, something more sinister? A Halloween mystery from Scotland.

The search

Extensive and detailed searches were conducted with assistance from every specialist air, land and water resource, with more than 200 officers covering more than 15 miles of of ditches, rough terrain and large water areas. Police also used forensic soil scientists and geoscientists.

The searches were conducted with the help of the Grampian Mountain Rescue Team, the Aberdeen, Tayside and RAF Kinloss mountain rescue teams, a dive and marine unit, a dog unit and Police Scotland air support.

A patch of neighboring woodland to Kersiehill Farmhouse comprised of rowan, ash and spruce trees was heavily searched during the initial investigation.

At the time of his disappearance, Shaun was wearing gray jeans, a white t-shirt and a grey hooded top.

The family enlisted the help of Glasgow group K9 Search & Recovery and its human remains detection dog in 2015, but the springer spaniel failed to pick up a scent.

Discovery of clothing and boots

Five days after Shaun was last seen on Thursday, November 6, specialist search teams recovered items of his clothing from the area near Greenburn.

These items were found in a bog - shoes, hooded top, and belt. Nothing else.

Arrest of mother

In August 2016, Shaun’s mother, Carol-Ann, 38, was charged with wasting police time. She believes her son was harmed. She even called in a psychic to visit the search site who now supports her theory.

It’s believed the charges relate to anonymous text messages she sent to Shaun’s close friends and family suggesting that Shaun had been murdered.

Charlie Reid, Shaun’s father was working in Saudi Arabia when news of Shaun’s disappearance broke, said on the bad days since his son vanished “it’s hard to function”. Charlie was critical of the investigation by Police Scotland and has stated his belief that Ritchie was killed over a debt.

Review into investigation

A review by the major investigation team in Glasgow of the work of Police Scotland was done which included a review of forensic work and search activity carried out as part of the investigation.

Detective chief inspector Fionnuala McPhail, who oversees the inquiry, said: “We fully appreciate how hard it must be for Shaun’s family with another year passing since his disappearance and my thoughts are with them at this difficult time. Our inquiry into Shaun’s disappearance remains one of the largest ever missing person operations in the history of Police Scotland.

Chief Inspector Stewart Drummond said, “To date, these reviews have all concluded that this remains a missing person inquiry and there is no evidence to suggest that Shaun has been the victim of any crime. We will, however, continue to keep an open mind and I can provide every assurance that we will act on any new information provided to us.”

Timeline of events

Friday, October 31, 2014 – Last seen by his mother on Friday evening at home in Watermill Road in Fraserburgh.

That same day, CCTV images are captured of Ritchie visiting a convenience store in Fraserburgh.

Friday, October 31 into Saturday, November 1 – Shaun traveled with friends to a farm in the Greenburn area, near Strichen.

Sunday, November 2– Mr Ritchie is reported missing at 8.45 pm on Sunday evening.

Thursday, November 6 – Police officers recover several items of his clothing including his shoes and his belt from the Greenburn area.

Aftermath

The farmhouse near where Shaun Ritchie was put up for sale for £350,000 in May 2015.

What happened to Shaun Ritchie and questions?

• What happened to Shaun after leaving Fraserburgh in the van and headed to the party?

• How did he end up in woodland near the Kersiehill Farmhouse and what happened during the Halloween party?

• Why did the search only turn up his shoes, belt, and hooded top? Where are his remains?

• What role did his friends play in the disappearance?

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The disturbing death of Fiona Torbet in the Scottish highlands

The mysterious case of Netta Fornario on the Scottish Island of Iona

The Eilean Mor Lighthouse Keepers

Sources

https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/north-east/fraserburgh/1877635/fraserburgh-man-shaun-ritchie-still-missing-five-years-on/

https://www.reddit.com/r/UnresolvedMysteries/comments/ahwow1/the_disappearance_of_shaun_ritchie/

https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/north-east/fraserburgh/1598040/sister-of-missing-fraserburgh-man-calls-for-fresh-information-appeal/

https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/1690104/mum-of-missing-man-arrested-and-charged-with-wasting-police-time/

https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/north-east/595072/press-and-journal-retraces-missing-shauns-steps/

https://www.scotland.police.uk/what-s-happening/missing-persons/shaun-ritchie/

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-34676354

https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/aberdeenshire/919471/family-renew-call-for-answers-on-missing-shaun-ritchies-22nd-birthday/

https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/north-east/595299/sidebar-mystery-house-for-sale/