The brother of missing woman Leah Croucher has died nine months after her disappearance, their father has said.
Ms Croucher, 20, was last seen in Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, on (February.
Her father John said he spoke to his son Haydon on Thursday ahead of the nine-month anniversary of his daughter’s disappearance.
He wrote: “What kind of life is it that you can speak to your son on Thursday evening to reassure him that we all feel the same sadness at Friday 15 th approaching.
“Nine months with no news about Leah is a terrible thing to face. We promise to meet up the following day so we can face it together.
“Hours later police knock on the door and tell you that Haydon is fighting for his life.”
Mr Croucher added that he sat by his 24 – year-old son’s bedside and watched him “deteriorate by the minute”.
He said: “Finally you have to tell him to go and be at peace. You hold him as he slips away. To say our hearts and minds are broken is an understatement.”
Mr Croucher described his son as a “kind, generous, funny, witty and loving person” and “in his words an amazingly good-looking bloke”.
He continued: “If Leah is up there with you look after each other as always, until we get there.
“We love and miss you both terribly. Our world could not be more broken than it is now. “
Haydon Croucher appeared in court earlier this year accused of making threats to Adnan Choudhury, who was described as being Leah Croucher’s ex-boyfriend.
Mr Croucher accepted a voluntary restraining order and the prosecution
Thames Valley Police searched a lake and the surrounding area in the Blue Lagoon Nature Reserve in Bletchley, Milton Keynes, in October as they continue to try and trace Ms Croucher. )
Ms Croucher has been described as white, 5’2 “tall, of slim build and with below shoulder length brown hair.
She was last seen in a black coat, skinny black jeans and black Converse high top shoes.
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