Teen Disappearance Becomes Murder Inquiry
Police Arrest Man on Murder Suspicion After Barnstaple Teen Taylor Charlton Disappears
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Key Points
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Detective Inspector Charlotte Heath said officers have committed “extensive resources” to finding Taylor for “the last five weeks,” despite his whereabouts remaining unknown.
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Police said the arrested 20-year-old suspect “currently remains in police custody.”
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Investigators asked the public not only to avoid speculation, but specifically to refrain from “sharing any unconfirmed information online.”
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Police appealed for witnesses: anyone who was “in the Seven Brethren area at or around that time Taylor disappeared” and thinks they may have seen him should contact detectives.
A 20-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder in connection with the disappearance of 15-year-old Taylor Charlton, Devon and Cornwall Police confirmed on June 12. Devon Live reported that the suspect was taken into custody at an address in North Devon after detectives received new information suggesting someone may have been involved in harming the teenager. Taylor has been missing for 35 days, last seen on CCTV near the River Taw in Barnstaple at 10:41pm on May 8.
The arrest marks a major shift in the investigation. Police had previously said there was no evidence of third-party involvement. Now, Detective Inspector Charlotte Heath says officers "will leave no stone unturned" as the case moves from a missing person inquiry to a murder probe. Taylor's body has not been found. The suspect remains in police custody.
How a Missing Person Case Became a Murder Inquiry
Taylor was last captured on CCTV near the Tarka Leisure Centre and the Seven Brethren car park in Barnstaple, heading toward the River Taw at 10:41pm on May 8. He was reported missing the following afternoon at 5:15pm on May 9. In the weeks that followed, police used sonar, divers, and drones to search the river and its estuary, according to Daily Record.
On May 13 and 14, two shoes believed to belong to Taylor were found along the River Taw's high tide line, roughly 480 meters apart. Despite this, the official police position as recently as early June was that there was "no evidence at this time that a third-party was involved." New information received this week changed that entirely.
New Evidence Prompts Arrest Five Weeks Into Search
DI Charlotte Heath said in a statement: "This week, we have received new information that someone may have been involved in harming Taylor." Officers arrested the 20-year-old man on the morning of June 12 at a North Devon address. The arrest was formally confirmed at 3:58pm the same day. Police have not released the suspect's identity, according to Examiner Live.
DI Heath said officers have committed "extensive resources" over the past five weeks to find Taylor. She stressed that the arrest remains "one line of enquiry, amid many." Searches are now active at "a number of locations in Barnstaple" as the investigation shifts from rescue to recovery and forensic work.
Family's Anguish and the Fight Against Online Misinformation
Taylor turned 15 on May 26 while still missing. His father, Alex Charlton, posted a public plea for his return on that day. His mother, Zoe Harvey, was reported to have collapsed during a self-led river search in late May. The community in Barnstaple has rallied around the family, with residents printing t-shirts and posters, according to Head Topics.
The investigation has been made harder by false information spreading online. Police issued warnings on June 1 about "cruel AI hoaxes" and fake stories circulating on social media. DI Heath said public speculation "makes the investigation more challenging." Officers have specifically asked people to stop "sharing any unconfirmed information online."
What Police Need From the Public Right Now
Devon and Cornwall Police are urging anyone who was near the Seven Brethren area at around 10:40pm on May 8 to come forward. Officers also want any CCTV or digital recordings from near the Seven Brethren car park or the riverside footpath that night. The official incident reference number is 50260117084.
Sector Inspector Andy Wills said police "remain open-minded" and that "all lines of enquiry will be thoroughly reviewed." The 20-year-old suspect can be held for up to 96 hours under UK law for a serious crime like murder. As of the afternoon of June 12, he remained in custody. Taylor's whereabouts are still unknown.
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