I hope every day that the mystery around my son’s death will be solved

Stephanie Bonner says she will always hold on to the belief that fresh evidence will come to light that will bring her a sense of justice and closure after the devastating passing of her son Rhys.

The 19-year-old’s body was discovered on marshland between Easterhouse and Gartloch Village on August 8, 2019, but the family say they have never been told what truly happened in the hours before his death or given the exact co-ordinates where he was discovered.

A tearful Stephanie, 41, told the Glasgow Times how friends and relatives marked Rhys’s life by releasing balloons next to his memorial bench at the family home in Barlanark.

She said: “I know this pain will never truly ease until I get answers about what happened to my boy. Someone out there knows something, and I pray every day that fresh details will come to light so that we can finally get some sort of peace.

“It’s been five long years since I hugged Rhys and my heart aches for him every single day. It’s a pain no mother should experience, it is constant and will never leave me. He was my baby and had his entire life ahead of him. Not knowing what happened in his final hours just adds to my pain.

“I’ll never give up hope that someday someone will come forward and shed light on what really happened. I need to know why my son is no longer with us. I’ll never lose hope that we will finally get the answers we deserve.”

Stephanie remains hopeful of answers around her son's death (Image: Newsquest)

Stephanie’s living room is filled with photographs of Rhys and treasured family mementos to keep his memory alive.

Her quest for justice has seen her provide powerful evidence to the Scottish Government’s Criminal Justice Committee, highlighting several key factors in her case that she feels should have been handled differently.

READ MORE: Glasgow mum tells how police put her on ‘hellish merry-go-round’

Her recommendations are to be considered by members as part of its remit to shape the Police (Ethics, Conduct and Scrutiny) (Scotland) Bill that will govern how the force operates moving forward.

She explains: “It’s important to me that his siblings grow up knowing all about their brother and how much he loved them. He would be so proud of them.

“It’s hard to believe that five years have passed. It’s a struggle every day knowing I’m never going to see him again and that’s why his photographs, candles and memorial bench in our garden are so special to us. Rhys will always be in our hearts and I know he’s up there watching over us.”

READ MORE: 'I'm unable to get any closure': Mum of tragic Rhys Bonner still waiting for Pirc probe answers TWO YEARS on

Stephanie says she believes changes must be made to allow for complaints to be lodged against Police Scotland in a simpler way – and dealt with faster. She also says the force must rethink the way unexplained deaths are dealt with.

Stephanie’s evidence is supporting several sections of the Bill. These include introducing a requirement for Police Scotland to respond to recommendations in complaint handling reviews and provide details on what they have done or propose to do in response to these within a timescale set out by the Police Investigations & Review Commissioner (PIRC). The changes will also allow PIRC to take over a complaint in certain circumstances rather than simply reviewing how it has been handled. It will also give the watchdog direct access to Police Scotland’s electronic database to view records and files.

Stephanie Bonner at Holyrood. (Image: Newsquest)

She added: “Rhys's body was discovered on August 8 and the police closed their investigation four days later. That was one full working day, but they never told me this, they led me on and on and on.

“Every time I mentioned making a complaint, they would stall me or distract me. I have no faith now in policing. It can be repaired if the proper safeguards are put in place, but I had to conduct my own investigation and PIRC established that.”

Stephanie’s representative Alex O’Kane added: “Police Scotland failed to properly investigate Rhys’s death and left the family with no answers, justice or closure.

“To date, Stephanie can’t even lay flowers on the spot where his was discovered as they messed up the coordinates and ended up with different sets. Stephanie can’t trust either now. She has held the force accountable and now six complaints have been upheld by PIRC. She’s continued to campaign and manged to influence the law which will reform Police Scotland and prevent other families going through this nightmare she’s experienced.”

Police Scotland say Rhys’s death was fully investigated and declared it as 'not suspicious'.