Has Anyone Seen Cole? One Family's Hunt for Lost Young Man
When teenage Cole Cooper ventured out into a chilly May night this past spring, no-one would have imagined he was in the last moments of his life.
He had been out with friends at a tavern near his residence in central Scotland.
But some time afterward, his phone was off - no messages, no online updates.
When there was zero indication of him five days later, his relatives contacted authorities.
Alert: This article contains disturbing information and references to suicide
Cole's family told that they notified police from the beginning that Cole's absence wasn't normal conduct - and that he had been facing challenges with his mental health.
"We explained to the police about Cole's mental health. Even though Cole had not been identified with clinical depression or similar conditions, he did have challenges," said the parent.
"And they still did not classify Cole as a high risk.
"He's at no time escaped... law enforcement have at no point been concerned in my son's life until the period he disappeared."
The police originally considered Cole to be intermediate risk after performing an assessment and talking to family and friends.
They said Cole frequently moved between addresses and that it was not unusual for him to be out of touch with his relatives for certain durations.
Cole's family felt like they had few alternatives but to conduct their own search and make their own search request.
His family member, Aimee Tennee, said: "We just decided we're going to handle it personally when they're not listening to us."
They utilized social media, posting one straightforward update: "Has anyone noticed Cole?"
"The minute that it went on there, it started to slightly escalate," Aimee said.
Cole's story began spreading across the Scottish region and elsewhere. His image was on various online clips, Instagram stories and online announcements.
The relatives set up a specific platform, and possible sightings and details were shared digitally between thousands of people.
His aunt said they obtained numerous communications from individuals who thought they had seen Cole.
The family coordinated search parties, which included up to numerous volunteers at moments in the subsequent phases of their investigation.
The disappearance had surprised the local population in the area, the former mining village on the banks of the waterway near to where Cole resided. Community members searched the area as they helped with the hunt.
The family also began to conduct their own personal visits, requesting inhabitants to review their security cameras.
"It's somewhat disheartening that it got to a juncture where we were having to take that action," Aimee said.
"Rather than you focusing on your pain and your hopelessness and your anxiety for that person, you're now in a changed situation."
The authorities says the relatives had stated a desire to perform their own hunts and requests, which they were allowed to do.
"We counseled them on this. Nevertheless, at no time did Police Scotland request or prompt the relatives to lead the case or give information," a spokesperson said.
The authorities had also been searching for Cole.
Several days after he was reported missing, they released their opening public call - then they elevated his risk rating from moderate to elevated.
Recovery canine units and aerial devices were deployed, as well as the aerial unit and aquatic specialists.
The household pieced together the concluding period of Cole's life and established a timeline of where the teenager had gone, looking for clues.
They located video of him from shortly after he left the pub in Denny, in Stirlingshire, on the specific night.
He was filmed on camera walking to a social gathering, then subsequently a residential surveillance recorded him walking to and from his parent's home, even though he wasn't in.
The family got CCTV footage from a vehicle service center which captured Cole as he walked along the primary road at Longcroft, hesitating near a bus stop.
At 6 AM,
