Parents of a teenager whose body was found in a park two days after going behind a bush for a “wee” believe there was “foul play” as they seek answers from the police.
Reagan Brown disappeared on the evening of May 6 after meeting a friend in Leazes Park in Newcastle and was tragically found dead in a lake two days later.
Parents Frank and Katrina Brown said their lives have never been the same since losing their second child, who dreamed of travelling the world one day. Katrina, who is also mum to Shaina, 25, and Tyler, 18, said the family still have unanswered questions about what happened to their daughter.
The shop assistant claims police haven’t been in touch regularly with updates, despite family members ‘begging’ for answers. The parents, who live in Hexham, Northumberland, say they have no idea what happened to Reagan that evening in May – and believe there may be foul play involved.
Northumbria Police said they were carrying out a full investigation, which remains ongoing and two people have been arrested. An inquest is yet to be held to establish the cause of death.
“How did she go from going for a wee, to going invisible, to falling into the lake? The water only goes up to her chest, there’s no current in it and she can swim,” the parents told ChronicleLive. “Surely she would’ve been shouting for help but nobody heard anything. There’s so many unanswered questions. She didn’t just walk into that lake and drown, something happened. In my opinion, I feel there was foul play. Of course it could’ve just been an accident but we don’t know, there’s no evidence of anything.”
The family claim police haven’t been in regular touch with them about the case, and say Reagan has ‘just become a case number’. Katrina said: “The police don’t get in touch or let us know anything. We’re telling them information, they’re not telling us anything. In our opinion they’re just trying to close this case, but we still have so many unanswered questions.
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“I was begging them to get in touch with us with any little bit of information, good or bad, and they wouldn’t even do that. We’ve been so let down, we feel like Reagan has just become a case number. It’s been six months and they’re not any closer to knowing what has happened.”
Frank said: “This is the first thing I think about when I wake up, what I think about all day, and the last thing I think about before going to sleep. We think the police are trying to put it down as a tragic accident but we think it’s more than that. The hole will never be filled again. It’s absolutely devastating. We’re always looking for little signs of her. We just want justice for her.”
Katrina added: “Reagan was just a lovely, family-orientated, kind and genuine girl. She wanted to save up money to go travelling, she kept talking about Australia and America. Please come forward even if you don’t want to get in touch with the police, just get in touch with us. It could be something so small but it may be massive to us. We believe there are witnesses out there.”
Now, the family are urging anyone with any information to contact police or the family directly to help uncover what really happened to their daughter. A Northumbria Police spokesman said: “Our thoughts remain firmly with the family and friends of Reagan Brown following her tragic death in May 2024.
“We are carrying out a full investigation into Reagan’s death, which remains ongoing. As part of our enquiries two people in their 20s were arrested and are currently released under investigation. One was arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of Class B drugs and the second on suspicion of threats to kill.”
