Family devastated as body of missing Inverness boy found near to home

By CLAIRE GARDNER
Published on Monday 23 January 2012 00:00

THE BODY of a teenager who had been reported missing in the Highlands has been found just yards from his house.

A massive air and land search was launched in Inverness on Saturday after 16-year-old Scott Campbell failed to return home after a night out.

The teenager’s family raised the alarm because it was “out of character” for him not to contact them.

Yesterday, police confirmed they had found the body of the young man in the garden of a house in Culduthel, the largely residential area of Inverness near where Scott lived.

They have described the death as unexplained.

His family, at their home at Culduthel Mains in the city, were last night described as “devastated”.

A neighbour said: “His family became really concerned when he failed to make contact.

“He was a good lad who was never in any trouble. He had gone to a party in the Inshes area and we believed he was making his way home early in the morning.

“We don’t know what route he was taking, but he ended up in the back garden of a house near to his home.

“There is a burn at the back, but we don’t know if he slipped and fell, possibly hitting his head. It is tragic because he was really well liked in the area.”

Police last night confirmed the body found in Culduthel was that of Scott.

A Northern Constabulary spokesman said: “A post mortem will be carried out and inquiries into the death, which is still being treated as unexplained.

“A family liaison officer has been arranged to provide support to the family at this extremely difficult time.

“The family have asked that the media respect their privacy and allow them to grieve in peace.”

Scott was last seen at the Tesco superstore at Inshes, in Inverness, at about 5:15am on Saturday.

The location where he was found was between the supermarket and his home – and also close to his school in Culduthel.

Such was the concern for Scott, locals planned to organise their own searches but were talked out of it by Northern Constabulary.

The 5ft 10in teenager, had last been seen wearing a black hooded top, jeans with “V” on both rear pockets and blue suede Adidas trainers.

Local councillor John Finnie, also a Highlands and Islands MSP, said: “This is so tragic. Any lost of life is awful, but it is really sad when it is someone so young. My thoughts go out to his family and friends.”

Scott was originally from the Western Isles. He was brought up in the crofting village of Dell, in the Ness area, in the north of Lewis.

The teenager’s family is well known in the district as his grandfather, a church elder, used to own the Cross village shop.

Tributes were also being paid to Scott on websites.

Yvonne Murray said: “There are a lot of heavy, heavy hearts in Inverness and Lewis today.”

Caitlin Stroud added: “Keep smiling up their [sic] cause you certainly made evreyone else smile were so young as well its just not right.”