SIX-YEAR-OLD Spencer Manders includes his father in everything he does – yet he will never meet him.
The youngster, born only months after his father’s death, struggles to make sense of what happened, although he is so far blessedly ignorant of the grim facts.
The badly decomposed body of 31-year-old Darren Manders was found by a dog walker, partly concealed under a pile of logs in Starvation Clump plantation, on the edge of Nunthorpe village, near Middlesbrough, on July 2, 2003.
A post mortem examination revealed that he had died from severe head injures.
A murder investigation was launched and two men were arrested, but they were later released without charge.
Darren’s parents agreed to speak yesterday after Cleveland Police launched a fresh appeal for information that might help them track down his killer.
Terry and Lesley Manders, who now look after Spencer, said they must cope with endless questions from the youngster.
“As he gets older, he has started to ask more and more questions,” said Mrs Manders.
“He likes to include Darren in everything we do. He asked us to set a place for him at the table at Christmas and we took an advent calendar to Darren’s grave.
“He also asked if he can have a day at Flamingo Land and a day in heaven so he can be with his dad. Spencer won four races at sports day but came home crying because there had been a dads’ race and his dad wasn’t there.
“We have told him the bad people have taken him but we know, one day, he will have to know the truth. How do you tell a six-year-old his dad was viciously beaten to death?”
Mrs Manders added: “Darren was loyal to the people he hung around with. Now it is time they repay some of that loyalty and come forward.”
Detective Superintendent Gordon Lang said: “Whoever killed Darren may think they have got away with it, but I can assure them, they haven’t.
“My appeal is to anyone protecting his killer – it’s not worth it. Think about what they have done, and why it’s not too late for you to do the right thing.”
He added: “These actions have robbed Darren’s family of a loving son and father – indeed Darren has sadly never seen his son. His family deserves to know why he was taken away from them, and see justice done.”
Anyone with any information should call 01642-301615
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