The writer, who has been missing for six months, and his family have no idea what happened to him

The family of a man who disappeared more than six months ago say it’s like “the earth opened up and swallowed him”. Desperate for clues to his whereabouts, the close-knit family say they can’t rest with his mysterious disappearance at the forefront of their minds.

They were looking for answers or “just one little thing” to give them an idea of ​​what happened to Daniel Mizzi, from Plymouth, who went missing on December 8, 2023. His mother Karran Minchinton, 58, and brother Daniel’s younger brother, Jake Hughes, said they hit a brick wall but will never give up hope.

Jake, 30, said: “Our hearts ache every day. If we’re being honest, we have no idea if he’s alive or dead and the not knowing is what hurts as your mind wanders to dark places when thinking about him. We had to go through Christmas, our stepfather’s day, our mother’s day and Dan’s day without him.”

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Karran said: “I’m not going to grieve for him until I know what happened. I think he’s still alive. I have endless night terrors and nightmares of missing myself, I never thought we would have another six months of nothing. Everything in his room is left, waiting for him. We just need one small thing. Please, please, Dan if you can, I’m begging you to call me. We just want to hug you. We love you and want you home.”

There have been no sightings of Daniel, now 36, since he was seen on CCTV at 1.38pm in St Ives walking along the road near Porthmeor beach. Daniel potentially headed for the South West Coast Path, but there is no verification that he ever reached the path – or if he went anywhere else.

There was an extensive police search with helicopters, drones, boats and divers at the time, but no trace of Daniel was found. His mobile phone was still switched on as of 6.40pm on 8 December (2023) and it rang from the Camborne telephone mast – although he is not believed to have been in that area.

Jake said: “I texted her at 6.23pm asking if she wanted tea as I didn’t realize she’d left the house earlier that day as we were working and it wasn’t unusual for us not to speak during a working day until the evening when we would both be working. His phone was either switched off or died at 18.40. I can deduce if his phone went off in response to my text, but that would be pure speculation.”

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It is understood that Daniel Point was last seen near Porthmeor Beach to Porthmeor Cove and across the marshes – covering Zennor Tor to Mên-an-Tol – were searched.

Mên-an-Tol stands out for the family as Daniel is a big fan of The Levellers and one of their songs is based on this historic Cornish landmark. However, there is no evidence that he went that far from where he was last seen on CCTV.

Jake said: “If he went on the South West Coast Path then that increases the risk factor as it is a country route with high cliff tops. However, having walked along it myself in bad weather (only a few miles of it), I’m less inclined to believe he walked it, as he’s not a hiker and wasn’t dressed for it, but this is just speculation on my part. side of things. The detective and his senior investigating officer also walked the path from a point further than I did, and if he walked that far, then it’s dangerous. The investigation currently believes that it was not a suicide and that the two prevailing theories are either accidental or he disappeared on purpose and is hiding, but again, these are just theories and every possible outcome has a plethora of conflicting evidence. “

A keen writer, Daniel was working as a freelance writer at the time of his disappearance. He took shower gel, a phone charger and bought a return train ticket from St Ives back to Plymouth.

It is understood Daniel was seen on CCTV at Plymouth train station at around 10.30am on December 8, 2023. Then at 12.08am the same day, he was spotted in St Erth. The last known CCTV image of Daniel was at 1.38pm (December 8) on the west side of Porthmeor Hill in St Ives. Just before Porthmeor Hill and the beach car park – was seen heading west.

Forensics looked at his devices but found no dating profiles or anything suspicious. Daniels’ family is aware that he has been on the dating app Grindr in the past.

The family said Daniel’s appearance may have changed. Karran explained that he has very curly hair – and it could have grown in contrast to the photos that were shared in the appeal to find him.

Daniel is a quiet man, doesn’t like clubs, pubs and bars and doesn’t drink or do drugs, his family says. The 36-year-old was carrying some belongings in a gray laptop bag when he went missing and his family are asking anyone in and around St Ives to keep an eye out.

Jake said: “If anyone sees a gray laptop style bag or an abandoned phone please let us know or contact the police so it can be checked to see if it is Dan’s. I try to call him all the time but his phone stays switched off. We leave him messages.

“It’s out of character for him. Maybe he went to meet someone, we don’t know and the police are confused. On 8th December 2023 my brother left the house I share with him in Plymouth and went down to St Ives. It hasn’t been seen since and we’ve been through every possible outcome in the last six months. We’re about to step up, pushing his name and face again – and we’re not taking silence or no for an answer.”

Missing persons charity Locate International is set to take up the case as the search for answers continues.

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