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Glasgow Live
Glasgow Live
National
Hannah Mackenzie Wood & Keiran Fleming

Police found to have mishandled complaints about death of Glasgow teen Rhys Bonner

Complaints made by a grieving Barlanark mum regarding the investigation into the death of her teenage son have been upheld by a watchdog.

Rhys Bonner went missing from his home in July 2019. The half-naked body of the 19-year-old was found in the marshland between Easterhouse and Gartloch Village two weeks after his disappearance.

Police Scotland declared that the death was fully investigated and it wasn't suspicious, reports the Daily Record.

READ MORE: Police welcome conviction of ex-councillor who 'befriended and betrayed' teenagers

Mum, Stephanie Bonner, revealed she still hasn't been told where her teenage son's body was found and the death certificate states the cause as 'unascertained'.

The heartbroken mother claims she carried out her own investigation and the family's concerns were disregarded by officers.

The Police Investigations & Review Commissioner (PIRC) has ordered Police Scotland to have another look at how they handled formal complaints made by teh family following the review.

Out of the 26 complaints made, four were not dealt with to a reasonable standard. These include the incorrect coordinates for where Rhys's remains were discovered being given to the family and officers failing to facilitate a site visit.

Officers also expected the family to 'find the location themselves' after they were handed a map.

A further complaint upheld by PIRC stated that Police Scotland failed to investigate Rhys's final movements, leading to his family conducting their own enquiries.

Reacting to the review, Stephanie said: "I still don't know where my son's body was recovered. It's horrendous. I miss him with every breath I take and every day I wake up and lose my boy all over again.

"But I've got to keep going and stay strong for Rhys's four siblings, to show them that mum is still fighting.

"We have been waiting for these answers but to now have them in writing is surreal. I'm delighted that PIRC has come back with this report. It has restored my faith in humanity."

Stephanie is preparing to give evidence at Scottish Parliament in support of a petition to improve the way that unexplained deaths are dealt with, following the review.

She added: "I'm so proud that I'm going to be able to take this issue to the Scottish Parliament. Now I have the PIRC report, I will be able to fight my case and explain Rhys's story."

Chief Superintendent Mark Sutherland, divisional commander for Greater Glasgow, said: “My sympathies remain with Stephanie Bonner, her family and friends for the distress they have suffered since Rhys’s death in 2019.

“We have received a Complaint Handling Review from the Police Investigations & Review Commissioner which looked at how we dealt with the family’s complaints and will study this carefully before updating them and the PIRC in relation to any matters raised."

A Pirc statement said: “We have received an application for a Complaint Handling Review in this case. Following careful consideration of the available information, the Commissioner issued a CHR report with our findings and conclusions to the family on 30 November 2022."

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