The family of 27-year-old computer programmer Richard Massey, from Edenthorpe, who disappeared in December 2002 while he was working in New York, faced six years of anguish not knowing if he was alive or dead.

'It was a difficult time for us and they just didn't seem bothered'

Katie Massey

Richard's body was discovered in the Hudson River in March 2003 but never identified by police - and he was buried in a pauper's grave.

His family had no knowledge of his fate until his sister Katie employed a US lawyer who traced his body and yesterday the family were finally able to lay Richard to rest in Doncaster.

Katie said police in America had suggested her brother might have left for a holiday.

But at a legal hearing earlier this year it emerged police had only carried out a superficial investigation into Richard's disappearance and death.

Katie said: "Their attitude was that he was 27 years old, had no history of mental illness and that he was not vulnerable. They said there were no suspicious circumstances like blood in his apartment and they were really not interested.

"It was a very difficult time for us and they just didn't seem bothered. We nagged and nagged but were all told the same thing, that they were investigating.

"We have had six years where we thought we would never know. We might never know how he died but for six years we have wondered where he might be. Now we know he is not alive, at least we might start to come to terms with it."

Richard disappeared on December 19 2002 after phoning home to make arrangements

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