Police Investigating Disappearance of Gay Man
(London, UK) – Detectives from London’s Specialist Crime Directorate are investigating the disappearance of 61-year-old Alexandre Madeira Marques, known as Alex.Alexandre, originally from Portugal, was last seen at 11:00am on Sunday, October 16 when a neighbor saw him at his home in Notting Hill. He apparently arranged with a friend to meet for a drink at the Notting Hill Gate Cafe, but then did not show up or call.Alexandre works in London as a waiter and at the ARTS club in Mayfair and failed to show up the following day for work. Coworkers said he was known for being very reliable and punctual.Friends of Alexandre have suggested that it is entirely out of character for him to dissappear. He also failed to pay his rent, and his flat was found containing items that the detectives said people would ordinarily not leave town without.Alexandre is openly gay and single man. Detectives described him as being approximately 5’8″ and of a thin build, with short brown hair and a Mediterranean appearance.The detectives believe he had his wallet and glasses on him when he disappeared.”It is important that we speak to anyone who knows Alex,” DI Tim Dobson of the Specialist Crime Directorate said. “No one we have spoken to date has heard from him, which gives us cause for concern. If you think you may have seen or heard from him after (Sunday), please contact us. Naturally we would also like to ask Alex himself to contact us and let us know he is safe.”Susan Paterson, Chair of Galop, an organisation that provides victim support to those experiencing homophobic crime, said: “We would like to ask anyone who has any information that could help police to get in touch. If you do not want to speak to police directly, please phone Galop where you can speak to someone in confidence.”Anyone with any information is asked to call police on 020-7321-9258, to speak anonymously with Crimestoppers on 0800 555-111 or Galop on 020-7704-2040.© 2005 GayWired.com, All Rights Reserved
