Cole Cooper, 19, from Longcroft, was last seen on May 7 after he asked a school friend for a lift but was refused.

The desperate family of a teenager who has been missing for over a week have been targeted by sick scammers claiming that he is dead and demanding cash for information.Cole Cooper, from Banknock in Falkirk, was last seen over a week ago in the early hours of Sunday, May 4. (Image: UGC)

A devastating turn of events has unfolded as relatives of Cole Cooper, who vanished under suspicious circumstances after being captured on disquieting doorbell footage, have ceased the planned search due to a grim discovery. The 19 year old had gone missing May 7 after being declined a lift by a mate near Longcroft in Scotland, prompting worry when he failed to return. Hope turned to sorrow when police located a body in woods close to Kilsyth Road in Banknock, Falkirk, not far from where Cole was last spotted.

A formal identification is pending by authorities; however, the family pre-empted this by cancelling a search party that was set for Sunday, according to the Daily Record. In a heart-rending plea, the family issued an update, stating: “I’ve been asked to inform everyone that the search on Sunday, June 8 is cancelled. The family appreciate everyone’s continued help, please share to inform everyone who was due to attend the search tomorrow.”

The tragic finding, just a quarter-hour’s journey from the teen’s last known location, adds poignancy to the unsettling last images of Cole attempting to gain entry into his father’s property earlier in the month. Police Scotland remains earnestly piecing together events leading up to the tragedy, reports the Mirror.

The desperate family of a teenager who has been missing for over a week have been targeted by sick scammers claiming that he is dead and demanding cash for information.Cole Cooper, from Banknock in Falkirk, was last seen over a week ago in the early hours of Sunday, May 4. (Image: UGC)

We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our Privacy Policy

New footage has emerged of the missing teen, Cole Cooper, appearing “spooked” in the Longcroft area, as relatives endure what they describe as “hell” since his disappearance. Before the grim discovery on 6 June, a heartbroken post on a Facebook page dedicated to locating Cole read: “Every second, every minute, and every hour is becoming more painful. Sunday June 8 marks five weeks.”

Following an intense five-week search involving helicopters, divers, and police experts, Police Scotland made a tragic announcement. They revealed: “Around 4.15pm on Friday, 6 June, 2025, the body of a man was discovered in a wooded area near Kilsyth Road in Banknock. Formal identification has yet to take place however the family of missing man Cole Cooper, 19, has been informed. Enquiries remain ongoing to establish the full circumstances.”

The extensive effort also saw over 400 door-to-door interviews and the examination of massive amounts of CCTV footage alongside other investigation methods. After revisiting locations Cole was last noticed, Chief Inspector Alex Hatrick expressed gratitude for public assistance and called for new information regarding the case.