A mother, convinced her son was killed in Spain, has enlisted the services of two former British detectives to look into his death. Sam Hutchinson and Emma Coles from Verity Henton Private Investigations have taken on the case of Brett Dryden, 35, who was discovered deceased in July of last year. Brett’s mother, Sandra Adams, disclosed to the Mirror that they are pursuing a distinct line of inquiry with the aid of ex-police inspectors in Spain.
Sandra, aged 56 from Chester-le-Street, Co Durham, is advocating for a Spanish judge to reopen the police investigation into her son’s demise. Brett, who managed a legal cannabis club named The Dawg House, is believed by Spanish authorities to have been the target of a robbery at his residence in Mojacar, Costa de Almeria, while he was engaged in buying and selling marijuana.
Former Essex Police anti-corruption officers, Ms Hutchinson, 57, and Ms Coles, 41, established their investigative agency in April 2020. Their involvement in the case surfaced following a Home Office pathologist’s report that contradicted the conclusions of a Spanish pathologist’s post mortem examination on Brett’s remains.
The Spanish post mortem attributed the father-of-one’s passing to pulmonary haemorrhage, with traces of cocaine and cannabis found in his system. Authorities noted no signs of a struggle, with Brett’s bloody footprints leading directly to where his body was discovered, alongside a significant head injury.
Dr. Cooper, an honorary consultant at the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle, expressed skepticism towards the Spanish pathologist’s cause of death determination. According to his assessment, the observed lung changes in Brett were non-specific and did not indicate an adverse drug reaction. The external examination revealed bruises on the forehead and contusions consistent with an assault.
Sandra is pushing for a fresh investigation after reviewing a Spanish police report featuring CCTV footage of two individuals fleeing Brett’s home with bags suspected to contain cash and marijuana. Despite these developments, the presiding judge temporarily closed the case in September, citing insufficient evidence to support suspicions of foul play or bring charges against anyone.
Sandra shared the report from the Civil Guard’s homicide unit, believing it to be flawed. In April, she visited the location where Brett passed away in search of answers, leading a memorial walk with over 20 supporters wearing justice-themed T-shirts.
Verity Henton Private Investigations, headquartered in Central London’s Mayfair and Essex, was reached out to for comment. The agency, which employs approximately 100 staff, including its founders dubbed “spy mums,” gained media attention for their appearance on ITV’s This Morning in 2022.