The family of missing Caerphilly man Glyn Griffiths have described their heartache at not seeing their loved one for an entire year. Glyn was last seen on the evening of Sunday, June 20. He was 60 years old at the time.
Earlier that day, between midday and 12.45pm, CCTV footage showed the now 61-year-old outside Asda in Caerphilly. On Saturday, June 26 Gwent Police issued an appeal to help locate Mr Griffiths' car - a black Suzuki Grand Vitara. It was later found on July 28 at Heol y Dderwen, Nantgarw, locked and with Glyn nowhere in sight.
Despite extensive searching by his family, Gwent Police and the Central Beacons Mountain Rescue Team, Glyn's whereabouts are still unknown. His cousin, Kathleen Robinson, said Glyn had been a carer for his mum who has had dementia since 2016. She said he "idolised" his mum and that it was out of character for Glyn to stop visiting her.
Read more: Man arrested in Pakistan 27 years after Welsh market trader killed in shooting
Now 12 months after Glyn's disappearance, Kathleen said the family has still received no news about Glyn. She said the longer it goes without him, "the worse it gets". The 50-year-old said: "It's been terrible. The longer it goes on the worse it is. The hardest part is the not knowing.
"Nothing has changed. I keep ringing the police and they keep saying they are looking for him. He hasn't used any of his [credit or debit] cards. He's used no money unless he's getting paid cash in hand or going under another name. We're still calling up hospitals. Nobody has seen or heard anything."
Kathleen said since Glyn's disappearance, a lot had happened in the family. Not only had her father died - who Glyn was very close to - several babies had also been born who Glyn would have "adored", she said.
"My father recently passed away on Mother's Day," Kathleen said. "We put it on Facebook in case he saw it or someone could pass the message on. He wouldn't have missed [his uncle's] funeral. Four babies have also been born in our family - he loves kids. He was like a brother to me rather than a cousin and he was godfather to my son. My grandkids were his grandkids and he idolised them."
Kathleen said Glyn's mum, who he solely cared for before he went missing, also moved into a residential nursing home. She said: "His mum is now in a home as she was getting so ill. At first we had carers who helped her with Meals on Wheels and putting her into bed as she was too frail for us to do it. Every now and then she'll say 'Glyn hasn't come to see me'. It kills us every time she says it."
However, Kathleen said it's extremely difficult for the family to afford her care, which Glyn previously handled. She said accessing his money to pay towards the care home costs would not be an option unless he is declared dead - something that is generally not done until seven years after a person goes missing.
Kathleen said it is a huge added stress on the already heartbroken family who want Glyn's mum to have the best possible care. "How can we afford it?" Kathleen said. "We would go down the solicitor route, but there is no legal aid. Solicitors cost a bomb."
Glyn's disappearance remains a mystery to the family, but the longer time goes on, the less hope they have that he will be found alive. Kathleen said: "Last time I spoke to the police officer, they said the longer it goes on without him being found, the more likely it is that he is dead, but they also said sometimes people are gone for years and years and turn up out of nowhere. It's just really hard not knowing what he's doing or if he's okay."
Kathleen urges anyone with information - however insignificant it may seem - to contact Gwent Police. She said: "If anybody sees him or thinks they have seen him, please let the police know so we know what's going on. Even if he is still alive and doesn't want us to get in touch, that's fine we will stay away, just let us know you are okay."
A Gwent Police spokesperson said: “This is still a live, ongoing investigation, and specialist officers continue look at any information that we receive in relation to this enquiry. We would continue to encourage anyone with information relating to the disappearance of Glyn to contact us by calling 101 or by sending a direct message to our Gwent Police Facebook and Twitter social media pages.”
The force described Glyn as 5’9” tall, of a slim build with grey hair. Anyone with information should call 101, quoting 2100221975, or by sending them a message on Facebook and Twitter. To get the latest Caerphilly news straight to your inbox subscribe here.
READ MORE
The 'longest alpine rollercoaster in the UK' could be built at Caerphilly beauty spot
Man arrested in Pakistan 27 years after Welsh market trader killed in shooting
Wales' largest castle to be transformed into major tourist attraction with new visitor centre
Four-year-old girl 'terrified' after falling down ten feet deep sewer pipe in pub garden
Worker bled to death after severing ankle in recycling plant
