Luke Durbin from Hollesley, near Woodbridge went missing aged just 19 after a night out with friends in Ipswich. After after being unable to afford to pay for a taxi home at about 4am, this grocery store worker was last seen on CCTV wandering around the town centre in the early hours of the 12th May 2006.
Durbin had left his new motorbike and personal belongings, including his mobile telephone, at his friend’s house and no trace of him has ever been found since. A silver or white Volvo 440 – possibly registration M206 LYE (which was “either registered to a false name and address or on false plates” according to the ‘Missing The Missing’ YouTube channel) – seen also on camera in the close vicinity of Durbin’s last location at the time of his last sighting has never been eliminated from enquiries. Suffolk Police have stated that they “sadly believe Luke was unlawfully killed,” and though a £20,000 reward was offered and multiple arrests made, no progress has been made in solving this disappearance.
In subsequent years, Luke Durbin’s mother, Nicki Durbin, has tirelessly continued her efforts to find her son and taken a job working on the Missing People helpline to help others in similar situations. She also operates a Twitter account and an email address [email protected] highlighting the case and keeps alive the hope of one day solving what the Ipswich Star terms: “One of Suffolk’s most enduring mysteries.”
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I remember this case. How awful for the poor mother to not have found out what happened that night and for all who plainly loved and cared about this boy also. I hope one day they get the answers they so plainly deserve. Heartbreaking.
I suspect this case and that of Corrie McKeague could be linked. Both missing after nights out in Suffolk. Yes, years apart but sometimes these kind of killers go dormant for long periods. Just a thought.
As I recall, this case received substantial national news coverage around the time of Luke’s disappearance without, tragically, any success in finding him. And whilst it’s sad to hear of their suspected outcome the police, taking into account the passage of time that has since passed, are more than likely correct in their assumption.
More recently this case was discussed and the investigation re-examined on a late night police show I happened across on Sky. Tragically, that didn’t offer up any new hope. If anything I can recall thinking, it may compound the heartbreak Luke’s mother, Nicki Durbin already feels.
Life, as many of know, can be full of fragility. And perhaps some unknown factors had torn apart the very fabric holding this young lad together. Maybe he was unable to see any future? Maybe not? Maybe he is still alive? Maybe one day, when that fabric has been stitched together, he will reappear just as quickly, and mysteriously, he vanished almost 14 years ago on12 May 2006.
Absolutely heart breaking story. I don’t recall hearing of this case, the torment his poor mother must be going through, My heart goes out to her.
I can’t help wonder if someone offered him a lift home or maybe a sofa to sleep on.
According to a BBC web page reporting on a documentary on Channel 5 in April 2020, Durbin was a drug dealer with suppliers in Brixton whom he owed money.
On the day in question according to the report on this documentary, Suffolk Police claim that he did a deal in Woodbrifge after leaving work and then later took cocaine before going on the night out. It is alleged that because he had an outstanding financial debt with his supplier that he suffered the consequences that night probably with the involvement of those in the white Volvo.
Tragic case but if the allegations are true, then he suffered the consequences of his criminal activities.