A year on, the disappearance of 23-year-old Jack O’Sullivan remains a mystery, leaving his mum seeking answers.
His phone’s last activity was before 6 AM, pinging near Cumberland Basin and Hotwells. His bank account remains untouched. Jack texted his mom at 1:52 AM, saying he was safe and planning to take a taxi.
Jack lived with his parents in Flax Bourton, a town ten miles from Bristol. He left the party around one hour later, not saying bye to a friend outside. CCTV saw Jack walking near the Cumberland Basin.
His mom, Catherine, calls every day “hell.” She said they lack evidence of Jack’s fate and information about his location. Catherine feels frozen in time, and grief only increases, she says.
Jack studied history at Exeter University and moved back to Bristol afterwards. He looked forward to a law placement. Catherine asked if he needed a ride, but he said he would get a taxi instead.
She alerted police when he didn’t return home. Police searched near the Basin. They told the family Jack likely fell in. Jack had an older brother, Ben, who is 28. The family cannot accept his death without a body.
Catherine believes Jack didn’t fall in the water, as police found nothing to suggest that. She distrusts the police’s theory and thinks they focused too much on the river idea, missing CCTV clues.
Private detectives found more CCTV footage that seems to show Jack away from the water. He walked back toward the city center at 3:38 AM. Catherine thinks someone knows something about Jack and that he entered a car, perhaps trying to hail a taxi.
Catherine fought to get Jack’s phone records. EE contacted the family last October, hoping for a breakthrough soon. The family says EE treats the situation urgently and remains confident in the process.
His phone pinged in Granby Hill around 5:40 AM and stayed active for over an hour. Catherine asked police for the data first, but data protection laws prevented the release, and police said the data was not helpful.
The family contacted EE since then, believing police may have missed something. Last month, a body washed up in South Wales, but DNA tests proved it was not Jack.
Here is a recap of Jack’s last movements. He left his home around 6 PM and met friends in Bristol. At 8:20 PM, he took a bus to a bar. At 10:45 PM, he texted he was at a house party and that his keys were safe.
At 1:52 AM, he texted he would get a taxi. Around 3 AM, he left the party. At 3:13 AM, he was seen walking on grass near Brunel Lock Way. At 3:24 AM, he called a friend still at the party.
At 3:25 AM, he was possibly seen toward Bristol. At 3:34 AM, his friend called him again. He only said “Hello” before it cut. At 3:38 AM, he walked along Bennett Way. His phone was active at 6:44 AM.