Sixteen-year-old Damien Nettles lived with his parents, Valerie and Edward, and his siblings in Gurnard, near Cowes on the Isle of Wight. Described as a tall, lanky teenager standing about six feet three inches, Damien was a typical young man: he enjoyed music, had a new girlfriend on the mainland, and was looking forward to the weekend.
On Saturday, November 2nd, 1996, Damien left home around seven-thirty p.m., his father dropping him off at a friend’s house in Cowes. He and his friend, Chris Boon, attended a house party in East Cowes, crossing on the famous floating bridge. The party was uneventful, so the boys returned to Cowes, bought cider, and tried unsuccessfully to get served in local pubs.
They eventually parted ways. Damien’s friend went home around eleven thirty p.m., assuming Damien would do the same.
The last confirmed sighting of Damien came just after midnight, captured on CCTV in a fish and chip shop on Cowes High Street. Footage showed him alone, eating chips, appearing disoriented or possibly intoxicated, stumbling and behaving erratically.
After leaving the shop, Damien vanished. No credible sightings have emerged since, and there is no evidence he left the small island.
Damien’s family reported him missing the next day, but Hampshire Constabulary initially downplayed the case. Police mistakenly recorded his age as nineteen, declined immediate searches, and lost crucial CCTV footage from the High Street.
Critics, including Damien’s mother Valerie, highlighted early mishandling that may have cost vital evidence. The family conducted their own searches and appeals in the initial days.
Over the years, the investigation shifted to suspect foul play. Witnesses described Damien as heavily intoxicated or confused that night, with unverified rumors of drug involvement, possibly purchasing from a local dealer.
Persistent rumors in Cowes point to links with the local drug scene. Some accounts suggest Damien may have owed money or crossed paths with dangerous individuals. A prominent theory involves a known drug dealer in the area that night, with allegations of violence and even a possible deathbed confession years later. However, no direct evidence has substantiated these claims.
In 2011, police arrested eight people on suspicion of murder or conspiracy. All were released without charges. Some suspects have since died, further complicating the case.
Valerie Nettles has been the driving force behind keeping Damien’s case alive. She authored the book The Boy Who Disappeared, detailing the family’s ordeal and perceived police shortcomings. A 2016 BBC Three series, Unsolved: The Boy Who Disappeared, reinvestigated the case, uncovering new witness accounts but no breakthrough.
In recent years, including 2025, occasional leads, like bones discovered in a Cowes garden, raised hopes but proved unrelated.
If he is still alive, Damien would be forty-five years old today. As of December 2025, the case remains open with Hampshire Police, classified as a missing person inquiry but treated as suspicious with probable homicide.
Crime Immemorial 