The search for 14-year-old Taylor Charlton continues after CCTV showed him leaving a Tesco Extra car park in Barnstaple and walking toward the River Taw on the night of May 8. Police recovered shoes believed to be his on the riverbank on two consecutive days about 0.3 miles apart. Specialist teams, drones and a police helicopter are searching the river and estuary; authorities say strong tidal movement makes the area challenging. Anyone with information is urged to contact Devon & Cornwall Police and volunteers are warned to stay safe.
Search Intensifies for Missing 14-Year-Old Taylor Charlton After Shoes Found on River Taw Bank
Taylor CharltonCredit: Devon and Cornwall Police
A large-scale search is under way for 14-year-old Taylor Charlton after he was last seen leaving a supermarket car park and walking toward the River Taw in Barnstaple, Devon.
Taylor CharltonCredit: Devon and Cornwall Police
Charlton was captured on CCTV in the Tesco Extra car park at about 10:30 p.m. on Friday, May 8. He was reported missing the following day at approximately 5:15 p.m. Devon & Cornwall Police say the last confirmed sighting shows him heading in the direction of the river.
Stock image of Tesco Extra in Barnstaple, DevonCredit: Google Maps
Officers have recovered a pair of shoes believed to belong to Charlton on two consecutive days along the high-tide line of the riverbank, roughly 0.3 miles apart. Specialist search teams, drones and the police helicopter have been deployed to cover an extensive area of the River Taw and its estuary.
The River Taw in Devon, EnglandCredit: Alamy
Charlton is described as about 5 ft 8 in tall with dark brown hair and a moustache. He was last seen wearing bright blue Nike trainers, a bright blue fitted top and jeans.
Sector Inspector Andy Wills said the possibility that Charlton entered the water is being treated seriously and that searches remain focused around the River Taw. He warned that the area is challenging because of “significant movement of water on each tide.”
Police have carried out extensive enquiries, including reviewing a significant amount of CCTV and conducting house-to-house, digital and witness checks. The force thanked the public for their response to appeals for information and urged anyone with relevant details to contact them. Members of the public who are searching have been asked to prioritise their own safety.
PEOPLE has contacted Devon & Cornwall Police and Tesco for comment.
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