Richey remains to be listed as a lacking particular person. After a few years, his case continues to draw important mainstream media and social media consideration with a lot hypothesis about what occurred to him.
The Edwards household have been thrust into the general public eye at what turned an extremely troublesome time for all of them. After Richey’s disappearance, Rachel felt compelled to take care of public curiosity within the disappearance within the hope that Richey could also be found. She has since been a supporter of households with a lacking relative and in 2017 appeared as a finalist on Britain’s Received Expertise as a member of Lacking Individuals Choir.
Generally known as Richard to his household, Richey was formally ‘presumed useless’ in 2008. Rachel stated: “Understandably, some discover the time period ‘presumption of demise’ upsetting however it’s essential to wind up complicated monetary points. Our father was dying, and his want was that Richard’s property was so as. On the time, it was a particularly troublesome course of to acquire presumption of demise.”
Rachel efficiently campaigned to alter the legislation in order that households have been capable of cope with their lacking liked one’s monetary affairs in a extra simplified approach. Rachel gave proof at a Governmental Enquiry and, in 2013, the ‘Presumption of Demise Act’ turned legislation. Consequently, the appliance course of for the presumed declaration of demise turned much less complicated.
As well as, Rachel was instrumental within the formation and implementation of the Nationwide Crime Company (NCA) UK Lacking Individuals Unit. She additionally gave proof at an extra Governmental Enquiry that sought to make sure that the DNA of all lacking individuals could be efficiently captured, saved, and cross-matched in opposition to all unidentified our bodies and physique components.
Rachel can be a voluntary Board Director for the Nationwide Lacking Individuals Helpline in Eire, a non-profit organisation who goal to deliver hope to households and mates of lacking individuals by means of sources, assist, and elevating consciousness.
“The Lacking Individuals Helpline Eire is making nice strides in Eire with the Division of Justice and unidentified our bodies. One thing else that I’m captivated with, and I’ll talk about on the convention, is the way in which by which the NCA Unidentified Discovered Stays database may help resolve instances of lacking individuals,” she stated.
Dr Cheryl Allsop, USW Senior Lecturer in Criminology and Prison Justice, stated: “We’re delighted to welcome Rachel and a number of presenters from a wide range of fields to the convention.
“We additionally owe due to the Centre for the Examine of Lacking Individuals at College of Portsmouth and to all the presenters for making this convention attainable. This contains police, practitioners, and lecturers, in addition to representatives from charities – Lacking Individuals, Find Worldwide, Unseen, Pay attention Up, Alzheimer Scotland,. and Central Beacons Mountain Rescue Workforce.”
Hosted in Wales for the primary time, the Worldwide Convention of Lacking Youngsters and Adults will probably be held on the Principality Stadium over three days. The convention will discover and talk about the total vary of points related to the challenges confronted by those that are missed, those that reply to lacking, and those that are affected by lacking.
