Grieving couple still in the dark over son’s death
THERE will be a big empty space at one Newcastle family’s table this Christmas.
Maria Wray’s son Dean Wright died in mysterious circumstances in Mexico last year.
During what should have been a relaxing pre-Christmas holiday in Cancun, the 33-year-old died in mysterious circumstances inside the TUI-operated hotel at which he was staying.
Last weekend marked the first anniversary of his death.
One year on and Mrs Wray and partner Paul Miller are still in the dark as to what exactly unfolded in the moments before their beloved son died.
As investigations continue, the family face the heartbreaking reality of another Christmas without their beloved son.
Mrs Wray said: “While everyone is celebrating together this Christmas, sadly Christmas will never feel the same again for our family.
“A year after our Dean was killed in Cancun it is still very raw.
“When you lose a family member under ordinary circumstances you go through a grieving process, but our
family has spent all that time trying to find out what happened.”
What used to be a time of year dominated by laughter and joy with their son will now forever be associated with that text and phone call received just under a fortnight before Christmas which broke the news Mr Wright was dead.
Mrs Wray added: “Like then and like every day since there has been no explanation and our grief has been constantly on hold.”
The Westerhope family is still searching for answers about what happened on the morning of December 14.
In the hours leading up to his death, Mr Wright was seen mingling with various guests at the hotel.
Some time between 5am and 7am, his family believe he may have been assaulted. Soon afterwards his body was found.
Police on both sides of the Atlantic have investigated his death.
A spokesperson for TUI previously said: “We are deeply saddened to hear about Mr Wright and our thoughts remain with his family.
“We have assisted UK police with their investigation and provided them with as much information as possible.
“As this matter is subject to an ongoing investigation by the Mexican police,
it would be inappropriate to comment further.”
Mr Wright’s family have now called on the help of former senior detective David Swindle, whose ‘David Swindle Crime Solutions’ team helps support families of those killed abroad, while they also have lawyers looking at his case.
A global appeal has been launched in the desperate search for hotel guests who may be able to cast a light on Mr Wright’s final moments.
However, as that continues, the family is preparing for what was his favourite time of the year.
Mrs Wray added: “Dean absolutely adored Christmas.
“His idea of the best Christmas would be playing board games and playing loads of his favourite music surrounded by his family.
“Every year there would be a competition to see who was best at pouring the right amount of brandy on the Christmas pudding to give it just the right blue glow.
“He did not mind if it was burnt to a crisp and practically inedible as he preferred a squishy trifle to a Christmas pud.
“Dean had a massive heart, Christmas to him was more about giving than receiving.
“One year Dean and his then girlfriend got up at 7am and went around all the family handing out presents.
“He just loved the idea of a big family Christmas, he loved the atmosphere and the closeness.”
Recently a website was launched to try and track down anybody who may be able to shed some light on what happened to popular Mr Wright, who had more than 500 friends attend a celebration of his life.
The family says since the appeal went live interest in his case has gone “through the roof” but, despite his story being shared as far away as the USA and Australia, it has yet to produce the crucial breakthrough.
Mrs Wray said: “The longer this goes on the less chance we have of finding anyone and less chance they remember what happened.”
As Christmas nears, the family admits it is having to cope with what is now its “new normal” – life without their precious Dean.
Mrs Wray added: “This year there will be no music, no Dean reading all the daft jokes out of the Christmas crackers, no enormous hugs and no huge cheesy smile. There is just us.”
■ For further details of the appeal, or if you have any information, visit www. deanwright.co.uk.