Devastated family whose son took his own life after sister Leah Croucher, 20, disappeared will cancel Christmas because ‘sadness keeps on coming with the force of a truck’
- Leah Croucher, 20, disappeared in February this year and has not yet been found
- Her brother Haydon, 24, was found hanged nine months after her disappearance
- Their heartbroken family say they are struggling with the losses at Christmas
A family devastated by the loss of a son who took his own life following the disappearance of his sister said they had ‘cancelled Christmas’ this year.
Leah Croucher, 20, disappeared in February this year while walking to work in Milton Keynes and has not been found despite a huge police search.
Her brother Haydon, 24, was found hanged last month just a day before the nine-month anniversary of her disappearance.
Haydon Croucher (left), 24, was found by his mother and sister Jade at his flat in Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire. He was the brother of missing Leah Croucher (right)
Today relatives of the siblings told how they had cancelled Christmas because the ‘sadness keeps on coming’.
The sibling’s older sister Jade, 26, said: ‘The sadness just keeps coming with the force of a truck.
‘It is a month since we lost our brother.
‘Leah, I know in my heart that there is nothing in this world that would stop you from being at his funeral!
‘What or who is stopping you from being here? Are you in heaven with Haydon? Are you looking after one another? Will you ever come home to us?
Haydon’s older sister Jade, pictured together, today shared an emotional tribute to her two siblings
She said following the devastating year: ‘The sadness just keeps coming with the force of a truck’
‘The sad truth is – we just don’t know but the loss that I feel from you being missing for 10 months feels the same intensity as grieving, that’s for sure.’
She added: ‘I am finding it so difficult to accept that Haydon is gone, I am finding it so difficult that we still have no answers about what has happened to Leah.
‘I find it difficult that at a time of year where everyone is surrounded by love, I have lost my brother and sister.
‘My fears grow every day, my heart physically aches for them both. Why has the world dealt us such a bad card?’
Haydon’s sister Leah, with whom he was very close, has not been seen since February this year
Leah’s father John said described the heartbroken family’s pain as ‘unbearable.’
He said: ‘We know Leah would have been at her brother’s funeral if she could have. Something terrible is stopping her from being here with us.
‘So much pain to try to deal with – made a million times worse because we know if Leah was still here so would Haydon.’
He revealed on the day of Haydon’s funeral earlier this month that police officers knocked on his door with another ‘lead’ regarding Leah.
He said: ‘Our horrible life does not pause because we lost our kind, wonderful son.
‘Just before Haydon’s funeral, the police arrived, apologising for the intrusion at this difficult time but there was another patch of land to search.
Haydon (left) and Leah Croucher (right) with their father John in their Taekwondo attire
‘The end result – nothing as usual. But there was time spent wondering if we would have two funerals this month to organise.
‘At least they would be back together. Two children to say final goodbyes to.
‘We started 2019 with a hopeful attitude that it would be another good year – family holidays to look forward to, favourite meals to cook, laughs and love to come.
‘We’re ending the year wondering what has happened to make everything fall apart in such spectacular fashion.’
Anyone who knows anything about Leah’s disappearance is urged to call police on 101, or Crimestoppers anonymously and free on 0800 555 111.
For confidential support in the UK call the Samaritans on 116123, visit a local Samaritans branch or click here for details