Missing 17-Year-Old Mason Pinsent Was Last Seen Climbing Into An Uber Before Vanishing — Then Just One Day Later, A Body Was Found In Woodland As Police Pieced Together His Final Journey

An urgent and widespread search for a missing 17-year-old in southwest England has ended in tragedy after authorities discovered a body in a wooded area following a mysterious disappearance involving a rideshare vehicle.

News Article - Devon & Cornwall Police

1. The Disappearance and Discovery

What began as a frantic welfare inquiry in Plymouth quickly escalated into a major police response after the teenager vanished under unusual circumstances.
  • Last Seen in an Uber: Seventeen-year-old Mason Pinsent was reported missing on Wednesday evening, Sept. 9, after he was last seen entering an Uber in the Stoke area of Plymouth and driven away to an undisclosed location.
  • The Woodland Find: Following an intensive overnight search, Devon and Cornwall Police located a body on Thursday afternoon in a wooded area off Crownhill Road, prompting an immediate deployment of detectives and forensic teams to secure the perimeter.
  • Family Notification: While formal identification by the coroner’s office is still pending, local authorities confirmed that Mason’s grieving family has been formally notified of the heartbreaking discovery.

    Body found in woods in search for missing Plymouth teenager

2. Police Findings and Ongoing Inquiries

As the community reels from the devastating news, law enforcement officials have provided preliminary details regarding the nature of the tragic incident.
  • Non-Suspicious Circumstances: In their official statements, Devon and Cornwall Police noted that the death is not currently being treated as suspicious by investigators.
  • Next Steps: Officers are continuing to trace the final movements of the teenager following his Uber ride, and a comprehensive file is being prepared for HM Coroner to officially determine the cause and circumstances surrounding the tragedy.