Jesse Richards, 40, was murdered in Evesham on July 31, 2009, in a brutal attack that shocked detectives, despite five people being jailed over his death his body has never been found05:01, 05 Aug 2026A heartbroken mum has told of the "living nightmare" she's endured for 17 years after her son's body vanished following a savage gang killing over a £1million drugs debt.Father-of-three Jesse Richards, 40, was murdered in Evesham, Worcs., on July 31, 2009, in a brutal attack that shocked detectives. The "passive family man" was said to have begged for his life before being viciously assaulted with a range of weapons, including a pickaxe, and bundled into a van.Five men were jailed for a total of 50 years in 2012 over his death. But despite the convictions, Jesse's body has never been found.Former boxing promoter Kevin Houston, 50, Matthew Taylor, 29, and James Doe, 38, all from Coventry, were jailed for manslaughter. David Butler, 26, from Slough, admitted obstructing a coroner, while Joseph Doe, 37, of Essex, pleaded guilty to assisting an offender.Now his elderly mother Lucy Richards has made a fresh plea for answers as West Mercia Police continue their hunt to find Jesse's remains and bring closure to his family.Every year since his death, Lucy, now in her 80s, has urged anyone with information to come forward. As the 17th anniversary passes, she is hoping someone finally breaks their silence.She said: "Let's not beat around the bush, every year I get older, my time shortens and the likelihood of my ever recovering Jesse lessens. Never having recovered him and my time running out is the living nightmare I face every day."I make this appeal to anyone with any humanity to put an end to my suffering. If you know anything and have a shred of decency please, come forward."A £10,000 Crimestoppers reward remains on offer for information leading to the recovery of Jesse's remains.After police released fresh pictures of Lucy with her son, she added: "While my Jesse may not have been perfect, he was my loving son and he will always be my son."I am a mother not just to Jesse but to my other children and as a mother, I want to do right by all of them. I have never had the opportunity to say my proper goodbyes to Jesse and as a mother, I have not been able to give his brothers and sister that opportunity either."Things change, circumstances change, reasons for remaining quiet change but every year I hope this will be the one when someone finds their conscience whether it be the person who knows what they did with him or someone close to them."If you know, don't think about Jesse, think about if it was your mum who didn't know, your brother or sister, I implore you to think about me and them."Detective Sergeant Gareth Evans said people often ask why police continue to appeal when five men were jailed in connection with Jesse's death in 2012. He said: "While this is the case, the family still do not have their peace."Despite renewed appeals and information being received that previously led to West Mercia Police conducting searches, the body or remains have not yet been recovered."There may be very good reasons that the vital piece of information has not yet been received, factors preventing people from coming forward, but circumstances change.Article continues below"Someone knows where Jesse is and they have possibly told someone else, knowing that information and not passing it on makes them as culpable for not relieving some of the pain for Jesse's family."Jesse would now be 57, Lucy Richards herself in her 80's, while wanting a degree of closure for herself in terms of recovering Jesse, she also wants to do the best for her other children, brothers and sister to Jesse. She is desperate to be able to do so while she still can."Anyone with information which could help the searches is urged to contact DS Gareth Evans directly on 07977 068 033.