Has Somebody Seen Cole? One Family's Hunt for Missing Teenager
As teenage Cole Cooper stepped out into a cool May night recently, no-one would have considered he was in the last moments of his life.
He had been spending time with pals at a bar near his dwelling in central Scotland.
But a few hours after, his mobile was switched off - no messages, no online updates.
Once there was zero indication of him after five days, his loved ones phoned law enforcement.
Caution: This article contains disturbing information and mentions of suicide
Cole's family revealed that they notified officers from the outset that Cole's absence wasn't typical behaviour - and that he had been facing challenges with his psychological state.
"We detailed to the police about Cole's emotional state. Although Cole had not been diagnosed with depression or comparable problems, he did struggle," said Wendy.
"And they nevertheless did not designate Cole as a high risk.
"He's never run away... police have not ever been engaged in my son's life until the period he went missing."
The police initially considered Cole to be intermediate risk after performing an evaluation and consulting relatives and companions.
They said Cole frequently moved between residences and that it was not uncommon for him to be out of touch with his family for periods of time.
Cole's relatives felt like they had few alternatives but to take matters into their own hands and make their own public call.
His relative, his aunt, said: "We just resolved we're going to take charge when they're not heeding us."
They took to online platforms, writing one simple update: "Has anyone noticed Cole?"
"The instant that it appeared online, it started to slightly expand," the relative said.
Cole's case began circulating across the Scottish region and beyond. His photograph was on numerous social media videos, digital updates and Facebook updates.
The household established a dedicated page, and potential sightings and information were shared online between many citizens.
The relative said they got numerous communications from people who suspected they had seen Cole.
The family organised search teams, which included up to 300 people at points in the later stages of their quest.
The vanishing had surprised the close community in the village, the historic community on the edges of the channel near to where Cole dwelled. Community members scoured the region as they assisted with the search.
The relatives also began to perform their own door-to-door inquiries, encouraging people to check their security cameras.
"It's somewhat disheartening that it arrived at a juncture where we were being forced to do that," his aunt said.
"Instead of you concentrating on your pain and your distress and your anxiety for that individual, you're now in a different role."
Police Scotland says the household had indicated a intention to carry out their own hunts and appeals, which they were permitted to do.
"We advised them on this. Nonetheless, at no point did Police Scotland ask or urge the relatives to head the investigation or give information," a representative said.
The police had also been seeking Cole.
Five days after he was declared missing, they issued their first public appeal - then they raised his risk classification from intermediate to serious.
Victim recovery canine units and unmanned aircraft were brought in, as well as the aerial unit and underwater search teams.
The household reconstructed the final moments of Cole's life and created a sequence of where the youth had traveled, seeking indicators.
They found recordings of him from immediately following he departed the bar in the location, in the region, on the weekend evening.
He was recorded on surveillance heading to a house party, then later a home security system recorded him traveling to and from his parent's home, while he didn't enter.
The relatives got CCTV footage from a auto repair shop which picked Cole up as he headed down the primary road at Longcroft, hesitating near a transit stop.
At 6 AM,