Mystery surrounds missing Ben Ross case after it took Brit’s mum flying out to Majorca to find him as cops face fury
BRIT Ben Ross has finally been found alive after the trainee barrister went missing in Majorca for 12 days.
Several unanswered mysteries still surround the case with Ben’s relieved mum Felix Robinson being forced to fly to Spain on her own as she questioned cops over their investigations.
The 26-year-old was found “dehydrated and exhausted” at the British Consulate in Palma as he was reunited with Felix on Monday.
Ben is due to stay in Majorca until he can sort out an emergency passport to get back to the UK with his mum saying he needs to be at “full strength” before they fly home.
The Brit was living in Majorca before disappearing on July 10 after a number of issues popped up.
Ben was seen arguing with his flatmates after his belongings were stolen just days before his disappearance.
His passport, iPad, keys and wallet, had all been taken away while he was swimming at a beach on July 6.
Loved ones feared he may have been left with no money and no way of contacting his family and friends.
The trainee barrister reported the theft to cops, but when he found his way home the door to his flat was locked and his flatmates refused to let him in.
A distressed Ben then broke in, sparking a huge row with his flatmates over the damage to the door.
Ben was then told to permanently leave the flat leading to him vanishing just three days later – sparking a huge search which is still steeped in mystery despite him being found.
Where was he found?
Ben was found by Felix at the British Consulate in Majorca’s capital of Palma after almost two weeks but his exact movements are still unclear.
In an update on the GoFundMe page set up for Ben, family friend Carla Speight wrote: “Ben has been FOUND!
“Today Ben was at the British Consulate in Palma Majorca and met with Felix who is incredibly relieved at the sight of her son and being able to hug him.
“For now, Felix and her family are requesting some privacy whilst they get Ben back to full strength and home, and they want to extend their thanks to the press, media and public for all their support in finding him.”
No other details have been released yet other than that Ben was suffering with dehydration and exhaustion.
This has led to questions over where the Brit was actually found or if he managed to walk back to the consulate on his own.
Emergency services, friends, and family had all been searching for Ben out on the holiday island in the sweltering 32C heat but found no trace of him.
Cops facing questions
Ben was first reported missing by his mum on July 13 as she sparked a mammoth search for the Brit through a number of desperate appeals.
Felix put out social media appeals as well as attempting to get the police involved in the search.
The mother claims she rang her local police in Wigan and Leigh at least twice a day after first telling them Ben was missing but alleges no one called her back for four days.
Felix then went to the station and refused to leave until an officer took a formal statement from her.
She later said the complaint was closed without any contact between Greater Manchester Police and herself.
A spokesperson for the force went on to confirm: “All details have been passed to Spanish authorities via Interpol referral form which the informant is aware of.
“If the missing person re-enters the UK it will flag up and we will be made aware.”
Spanish cops launched their own search for the Brit as they announced on July 18 that a Homicide Unit was in charge of the hunt.
Felix flew out to Palma on July 20 on her own accord as she was seen walking through the capital knocking on hundreds of doors – investigating by herself.
She told MailOnline over the weekend: “I’ve started the search myself. I’m going to everywhere that’s open today. Churches, the docks, anywhere that’s open.”
The devastated mum slammed local cops before she jetted off as she accused them of not taking her concerns seriously.
Felix added: “It doesn’t feel real. I’ve followed the procedure that’s on the Gov website, and I’ve begged them for help to get nowhere.
“I’m so worried about him right now, if they had done what they were supposed to in the beginning there’s a chance we could have found him by now.
“But to fob this off without justification is incredibly distressing. I can’t really put it into words about how I’m feeling.”
Despite the concerns, Felix praised the British consulate for their help but even they told the family they can’t take action until Interpol get involved.
It is still unclear if Spanish cops were in contact with Felix throughout the investigation.
The chilling email
The final contact Ben had with his mum was said to have been a “peculiar” email she says showed the worrying decline of his mental health.
It came just days after he was robbed at the beach and fell out with his flatmates.
Ben is said to have sent the email from a new address but it hasn’t been confirmed if it was actually the 26-year-old who sent the message.
It said that Ben wasn’t able to access any of bank accounts or money after the theft as he had lost his bank cards and phone with his security details on it.
Ben reportedly added that he “wasn’t interested in what happened next” – sparking fears for his safety.
The trainee barrister is said to have struggled with his mental health in the past which fuelled Felix’s concerns.
The theft and break-in
On July 6, Ben set out to get a European work number – and was carrying all his important items including his ID, phone, wallet, iPad and keys to the apartment he was staying in.
After applying for the number he decided to go to a nearby beach for a swim.
Ben returned after some time in the water to discover his bag with all his possessions – including his phone – had been taken.
He reported the theft to cops, but by the time he was done it was getting dark and the man was lost without his phone.
Ben managed to find his way back to his apartment but despite knocking on the door several times, his flatmates refused to let him in.
A distressed Ben then broke through the door and sparked a huge row with his flatmates over the damage to the door.
Cops were allegedly called to the flat but decided Ben had no criminal case to answer because he’d offered to pay for the damage he inflicted by forcing his way in.
In the email, Felix says his flatmates then made clear their intentions to kick him out of the flat.
Authorities investigating his disappearance are reportedly yet to discover any details on who or why Ben was robbed.
His weary relationship with his flatmates is also believed to be looked at to see what condition Ben was in before he vanished.
Hunt for Ben
MUM Felix had reached the Spanish holiday hotspot for a desperate door-to-door hunt on the Palma streets for her son.
The distraught mum was said to have met the British Consulate in Spain to start a search operation along with cops.
Meanwhile, Greater Manchester police previously released a statement regarding the search of Ben, saying it had referred the family to the British consulate.
A spokesperson said: “On Saturday 13 July 2024 we received a report that a 26-year-old man from Wigan had travelled to Spain and stopped contact with his friends and family.
“We informed them that they should contact the British Consulate who would be able to assist them in the search for their loved one abroad.”
The Foreign Office meanwhile also had confirmed it was supporting Felix and her family.
A FCDO spokesperson said: “We are supporting the family of a British man reported missing in Spain and are in contact with the local authorities.”
Spanish cops said they were 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 person cases in Spain.