DESPERATE HUNT
Inside mystery of latest Brit to vanish in Spain after Ben Ross disappears following robbery hell & ‘row with flatmates’
Ben sent a 'peculiar' email before his disappearance
A BEACH robbery and a bitter flatmate row are feared to be the driving forces behind the latest Brit's Spanish island disappearance.
Ben Ross, 26, hasn't been seen or heard from in more than a week after vanishing from Majorca capital Palma, sparking a desperate bid to find him.
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The backstory of the disappearance is a tale of sun-soaked island bliss turning to torment.
Ben, a budding barrister from Greater Manchester, flew to Majorca to see a friend, but decided to extend his stay to catch a break from the pressures of law studies.
He found a flat and appeared to be enjoying the move - on June 24, he posted an Instagram snap from Majorca with the caption "grateful".
But island life soon turned sour. According to mum Felix, he was robbed on the beach on July 6, losing his phone, wallet, keys and iPad.
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He reported the theft to police, but by the time he was done it was late at night and without the aid of navigation on his phone, he became lost.
He arrived home so late that his flatmates didn't answer the door, so he decided to break in - leading to a row.
Cops were allegedly called to the flat but decided Ben had no criminal case to answer because he'd offered to pay for damage he inflicted forcing his way in.
Felix says his flatmates then made clear their intentions to kick him out.
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He subsequently sent his mum a "peculiar" email in which indicated his mental health had declined.
He has not been heard from since July 10.
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Spanish cops now say they are urgently trying to track down the missing Brit, with a homicide unit leading the search.
A spokesman for the National Police in Majorca said: “We are aware of this disappearance and work is being done to try to locate this man.
“That’s all we can say at this present time.”
Homicide units are generally chosen to lead missing persons cases in Spain.
A well-placed source said: “This unit also investigates adult disappearances among other things so it’s standard practice for these specialist officers to be given the responsibility of getting to the bottom of things like this.”
Another added: “People shouldn’t necessarily jump to any conclusions about there being evidence at this stage pointing to this man’s disappearance being crime-related.
“But of course it’s an option that can’t be ruled out while investigators don’t know what’s happened to this person.
“His family can rest assured this case is being taken seriously and the right people for the job are involved in looking into it.”
Mum Felix, 52, on Wednesday told The Sun Ben's struggles might've led to him wanting to isolate himself, with her son battling with mental health in previous years.
We are aware of this disappearance and work is being done to try to locate this man
National Police
Ben is known as a spiritual lad who takes in inspiration from churches, books and historical monuments, so it's hoped he could be finding solace in such areas.
But given he has no phone and no money, Felix is fearing the worst - particularly following the finding of Jay Slater's body in Tenerife just days ago.
Felix plans to rush down to Majorca to start a search herself.
The mum's plans so far have been stalled as she currently does not have a passport, but says she is pleading with the Home Office for emergency travel papers on compassionate grounds.
She's found support from LBT Global - the charity that has supported Jay Slater's family in Tenerife.
A GoFundMe has been established by Felix's friend Carla, who is desperately trying to raise awareness of the case.
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Funds raised will be funnelled into flights, accommodation and food.
They have promised any left over donations will be sent to Andy's Man Club, a men's suicide prevention charity.
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