Leah Croucher’s brother took his own life after ‘pain and anguish’ of missing sister was too much

Leah’s family suffered a second heartbreak when their son Haydon took his own life just months after the teenager went missing (Picture: INS / Terry Harris)

Leah Croucher’s family suffered heartbreak for the second time when police said they had found her body, just three years after her brother killed himself.

Haydon, 24, took his own life after talking to his therapist about how he was struggling with his sister’s disappearance.

His mum, Tracey, said Haydon was ‘consumed with pain and anguish’ and died shortly before the nine-month anniversary of Leah’s disappearance.

He committed suicide in his flat in Bletchley, Milton Keynes, in November 2019, a coroners court heard.

He was rushed to hospital where he died two days later, Milton Keynes coroner’s court heard in 2020.

The tragic news comes after police yesterday said they had found human remains at a house just half a mile from where Leah was last seen in 2019.

Forensics and specialist teams from Thames Valley Police found Leah’s rucksack and ‘personal possessions’ at the house in Loxbeare Drive.

Detectives were said to have focussed on the attic of the house, after wall boards were seen being carried from the property and a blue forensic tent was put up in the front garden.

Haydon took his own life just nine months after Leah went missing (Picture: INS News Desk/INS News Agency Ltd)

Leah’s brother (right) took his own life after being left devastated when his sister went missing (Picture: INS / Terry Harris)

Leah was also close with her older sister Jade (Picture: PA)

John and Claire Croucher have suffered a second tragedy after police said their daughters body had been found (Picture: Terry Harris)

Leah Croucher has been missing since 2019 and now cops made a major breakthrough yesterday

Police and forensics officers at the scene in Milton Keynes (Picture: PA)

Officers have been searching the property since the start of this week (Picture: PA)

It is the second tragedy the Croucher family has faced, as it comes nearly three years after Haydon killed himself, after struggling with his sister’s disappearance.

Leah was last seen on CCTV in Buzzacott Lane in Furzton, Milton Keynes, just after 8.15am on Friday February 15 in 2019, walking in the direction of Loxbeare Drive and Chaffron Way.

At the time her parents, Claire and John Croucher, said her disappearance was ‘highly unusual’ and that it was ‘unbelievable’ that she had not tried to contact family and friends.

She was said to be on her way to work when she disappeared, which was reported to police the following day.

Leah and her brother were close, along with their elder sister Jade, and when the keen martial artist died it left the family heartbroken.

His mum said after his death: ‘What I am going to say will not be easy to hear. Some will feel outraged at the level of openness I am going to share.

‘We cannot any longer hide from the reality, we cannot pretend this doesn’t happen we can not bury our heads in the sand and shy away from the horror of ill mental health.

‘I cannot pretty this up, I wish I could.

‘On Thursday 14th of November, my son felt so alone, so lost, so broken that he felt he had no other choice other than to take his own life.

‘Haydon was so consumed with pain and anguish and despite the love around him it wasn’t enough. His mother’s love and that of his entire family was not enough.’

Leah went missing in 2019, and police said her body had been found yesterday (Picture: PA)

She was last seen on CCTV less than half a mile from her home in Milton Keynes (Picture: PA)

Officers have been searching for new evidence in the case since 2019 (Picture: PA)

MORE : Body found half a mile from Leah Croucher’s home after 2019 disappearance

MORE : New image released in search for missing Leah Croucher three years after disappearance

Jade wrote: ‘Haydon, me mum and dad held onto your hand until the very last moment but we will hold you in our hearts forever! You will always be with us until the day we meet you again.

‘Mum and Dad might not be together but one thing that will never waver is the love they have for you their darling son!

‘We will all stick together as a unit and get through the pain with the love and support of both of our amazing stepparents Dave and Claire.’

During Haydon’s inquest in 2020, assistant therapist, Chantelle Tillison said in the last of three sessions he felt there was no future for himself.

Ms Tillison said: ‘He felt hopeless and said he would be better off dead.

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‘He explained Leah was still missing and found it difficult to cope with no family support.

‘He fixated on hanging himself. He said if he had the means to hang himself he would.’

Dr Jibran Syeed, who was with the home treatment team, said he visited Haydon at home on October 18, 2019.

He said: ‘He (Haydon) had been quite a confident person and outgoing. He mentioned boxing and taekwondo.

‘It was reflected by the medals in his home. Now he had no confidence, no motivation for the future and had thoughts of suicide in the past.’

At their second meeting, on November 8, the doctor said he was more positive and was engaging with his family.

‘He was getting on with certain chores and was trying to find a job. He was active in ideas about what he wanted to do. His suicide risk was lower.’

Her bother Haydon, died in 2019, just nine months after Leah went missing, as his mum has said the ‘pain’ he felt was too much.