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Bryn Hargreaves was reported missing in January 2022 in the United States, where he lived and worked. The body of a former British rugby league star has been found more than a year after he went missing, his family has announced. Bryn Hargreaves was reported missing in January 2022 after being unable to go to work in Virginia, USA, where he lived.
The disappearance of the then 36-year-old man prompted a major search by police and sniffer dogs.
His older brother, Gareth Hargreaves, announced the death of the former player on Facebook 14 months after his last visit.
The message reads: “RIP Bryn Hargreaves. It is with incredible sadness that I can confirm that after 14 months we have finally found Bryn. We still don't know the cause of death or what really happened on 1/3/22. Thanks to everyone who helped with the search.
His mother, Maria Andrews, said she was "heartbroken" by the news of her son's death.
"Not something I wanted to share," he wrote. "I'm broken #heartbroken my beautiful son Bryn. I can't find words to describe the pain xx."
A British rugby league star who was missing in the United States for more than a year has been found dead, his family has announced.
Mr. Hargreaves was reported missing in January 2022 after failing to report to work in West Virginia.
Matt Mathers talks about everything we know about the British rugby player:
Wigan man found dead in US more than a year after he went missing, family says
A body found during the search for a missing rugby player has been identified by police as Bryn Hargreaves.
Police confirmed reports from the British man's family that his body was found more than a year after he went missing.
In a statement, the Monongalia County Sheriff's Office said: "Human remains discovered on February 26, 2023 in Monongalia County, WV have been identified as Bryn Hargreaves.
“Hargreaves, originally from England, was reported missing on January 16, 2022. His last known location was his residence at the Whisper Creek apartment complex, located on South Pierpont Road, Monongalia County, WV.
“A full-scale search of the Cheat Lake area was conducted by members of the Sheriff's Department, Morgantown Police/Fire Search and Rescue, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Mountaineer Area Rescue Group, MECCA 911 and several individual volunteers over a period of several months. with negative success.
“The Sheriff's Office is awaiting a full autopsy report from the WV Office of the Chief Medical Examiner before determining the cause and manner of death. An updated press release will be made available once this report is received.
Bryn Hargreaves moved to the United States to work in the oil and gas industry 10 years ago, shortly after his last club, the Bradford Bulls, went bankrupt.
He previously lived in Pittsburgh with his American wife Amy, whom he met in Mexico in 2013. The couple married in a ceremony attended by their families.
After four years, they began to live apart and eventually divorced.
Friends of the couple previously told the Mirror that the divorce "must have devastated him" as he was "so happy" when they tied the knot.
When the couple split, Bryn moved to West Virginia, but her brother, Gareth Hargreaves, said he had felt isolated during the Covid lockdown and suggested he could move back to the UK.
Bryn Hargreaves was born in Wigan and fulfilled his childhood dream of playing in the Super League for Warriors.
He also played for St Helens, where he won the 2008 Challenge Cup, before moving to the United States to work in the oil and gas industry 10 years ago, shortly after his last club, the Bradford Bulls.
He previously lived in Pittsburgh with his American wife Amy, whom he met in Mexico. After four years, they began to live apart and eventually divorced.
St Helens RFC, where Bryn Hargreaves was a former player, said the club will remember him with "genuine warmth and affection".
Chairman Eamonn McManus said: "Bryn was highly valued and respected by his teammates and everyone involved with the club during his four seasons with us from 2007 to 2010.
“He really was part of the great Saints team at that time and he was a World Club Challenge winner in 2007 and a Challenge Cup winner in 2008.
"We will remember him with sincere warmth and affection."
While we await further details from police, it is unclear how Bryn Hargreaves died or where her body was found.
His sudden disappearance and the lengthy search for his body left his family in a state of confusion.
Speaking to the PA agency in June 2022, Gareth Hargreaves said: "Bryn had mental health issues and had severe back pain following a car accident in December.
“He had also been away from his family at Christmas.
"The most likely scenarios were that he decided to get hurt or he decided to fade a bit and come back.
"But five months later, those two possibilities seem less likely because you have to think that a body would emerge."
He added: 'The police investigated his bank account, which showed that there was no withdrawal and that his wallet, ID and passport are still in his apartment, therefore he had no way of accessing his money or identification to travel. .
“So you start to think about the other possibility, that he had no intention of disappearing and that someone had something to say, through a kidnapping or something.
"You start thinking about all the weird stuff at that point that starts to add up. When the police surrounded her apartment, the door was locked but unlocked and the shower was still working."
"And the night she disappeared, she had ordered a few bottles of gin from a mail order company for delivery a day or two later."
The death of former Rugby League player Bryn Hargreaves has also been confirmed by his club, Wigan Warriors.
His former club tweeted: "Wigan Warriors are saddened to learn of the death of former player, Bryn Hargreaves. Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this difficult time."
Bryn Hargreaves' mother also shared her thoughts following the discovery of her son's body.
Posting on Facebook, Maria Andrews said she was heartbroken by the news.
My colleague Thomas Kingsley says more about the initial reaction to the news of the discovery of Mr. Hargreaves' body:
The body of former British rugby league player Bryn Hargreaves has been found more than a year after he went missing, his family has confirmed.
Hargreaves, who was 36 years old at the time, was reported missing in January 2022 after failing to make it to work in West Virginia in the United States. His disappearance prompted an extensive search by police and sniffer dogs.
His older brother, Gareth Hargreaves, announced the death of the former player on Facebook 14 months after his last visit.
More information here:
The former player's family has confirmed the devastating news
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