My son had the dream life in Spain – then a phone call changed everything, I may never get the answers I need
MUM'S PLEA My son had the dream life in Spain – then a phone call changed everything, I may never get the answers I need
A YEAR ago, Sandra Adams received a call that will haunt her for the rest of her life.
She was on her way home from work on 22 July last year and she says at that moment her old life ended.
Advertisement
7
Breet Dryden was found dead in his home in Spain
Credit: Supplied
7
Heartrboken mum Sandra Adams believes that her son was killed
Credit: Supplied
She was told that her only son Brett Dryden, had been found dead at his home in Spain.
While Sandra says that at times the grief is unbearable, she is kept going by her quest for the truth about the circumstances of his death.
She is driven by a burning sense of injustice, because she believes police bungled the initial investigation and Brett's death remains a mystery- one she is determined to solve.
Brett seemingly had the perfect life in the sun. The 35-year-old father-of-one, originally from County Durham, moved to Spain in 2019 with his partner.
Advertisement
They had a daughter. The relationship didn't work out and the couple split but Brett stayed in Spain to build his business and remained a doting father.
He lived in the laid-back Spanish seaside town of Mojácar in the province of Almería where he ran a legal cannabis club called The Dawg House.
Sandra, from Chester-Le-Street, says: 'When he moved, I was devastated but it was his choice.
'He had an amazing life there. He loved it. He had loads of friends and said he would never move back.'
Advertisement
But that dream life ended on July 22 last year, the day Sandra received a call from one of Brett's friends in Spain who had found his body in his villa.
'I couldn't believe what I was hearing,' she says.
Tributes Pour In for Father-of-Three Who Tragically Died in Benidorm
'My world caved in, I was in utter disbelief and I'm still in shock today.'
In a daze, Sandra, a carer, 56, and her husband and Brett's stepdad Rob flew to Spain that day.
Advertisement
One of the friends who found Brett claimed he'd overheard the Spanish police known as the Guardia Civil saying they believed Brett had been struck in the head with an axe.
However, the friends had been allowed to walk through the villa several times, which was potentially a murder scene.
A post-mortem was performed the following day. It concluded Brett died of a pulmonary embolism, caused by a blood clot in his lungs. The case was closed.
'They said it was a terrible accident. He fell and banged his head,' Sandra explains.
Advertisement
She was immediately sceptical. Rob had taken photos and video of blood stains in several locations around the property.
Her suspicions were further raised when she went to see her son's body.
7
Brett moved to Spain with his daughter and partner but when they returned to England he decided to stay put
Credit: Supplied
7
Initially Brett's death was ruled as accidental but his parents don't believe this is the case
Credit: Supplied
Advertisement
7
'He was in the chapel of rest, and there was a huge wound in the side of his head,' she recalls.
'I knew in my gut that something was not right. He had other visible injuries. To me it looked like there had been a struggle.'
The family have only recently been given details of what was contained in the full Spanish autopsy report.
Advertisement
They hired a Spanish lawyer who gained access to official documents in the case.
According to him, the autopsy report detailed injuries to Brett's legs, arms, head and neck and fingernail marks, cuts and bruises on his face.
There were nail wounds to his lips and neck. There was also a four-centimetre wound to his head and bruising to his ear, eye and skull on his left side.
Pathologists found internal bleeding to the right side of his head and 'intense encephalic congestion' - an injury resulting in the brain's blood vessels becoming swollen and congested.
Advertisement
The report also reveals police had admitted to pathologists that Brett had been the victim of a home invasion.
I just don't understand how we're nearly a year on and no further forward
Sandra Adams
The report stated: 'During the examination signs of a struggle were observed on the body such as droplets of blood in various locations on the body.'
Despite all this the autopsy also said there was cocaine in Brett's system and concluded this was what triggered the pulmonary embolism and within a day of the original postmortem the case was closed.
Still raw and in shock at their loss, Sandra and Rob did their own digging.
Advertisement
They discovered several of Brett's personal belongings were missing including his mobile phone, his wallet and his designer sunglasses.
In the days after his death Sandra used Brett's MacBook to track the missing iPhone which was still being used and pinged at several locations in the nearby town of Vera. She showed the police.
Four days after Brett's death, with so many unanswered questions, a local court ordered the police to reopen the case and treat it as a homicide investigation.
Sandra believes cops were hoping to sweep the death under the carpet to protect the reputation of the area, which relies on tourism.
Advertisement
'If they could have covered it up, they would have done,' claims Sandra.
In addition to the phone location, the Adams also discovered potential CCTV evidence after Rob knocked on neighbours' doors looking for video footage.
Sandra explains: 'One neighbour confirmed they had footage but under Spanish law they're not allowed to give the CCTV footage to anybody but the police, who now have the footage.
'We haven't seen it but our lawyer has seen reference to it in the police reports, which he says clearly shows two people leaving Brett's villa the day he died.
Advertisement
'He says the people were carrying what appeared to be the same type of bag Brett used to carry the takings from his club.
'What's more, the manager of Brett's club also told police that he was on the phone to Brett before he died and that Brett cut the conversation short with the words: 'I've got to go, they're here.''
Where to seek grief support
Need professional help with grief? Child Bereavement UK Childbereavementuk.org
Cruse Bereavement Cruse.org.uk
Relate Relate.org.uk
The Good Grief Trust Thegoodgrieftrust.org
You can also always speak to your GP if you're struggling.
You're Not Alone
Check out these books, podcasts and apps that all expertly navigate grief… Griefcast: Cariad Lloyd interviews comedians on this award-winning podcast.
The Madness Of Grief by Rev Richard Coles (£9.99, W&N): The Strictly fave writes movingly on losing his husband David to alcoholism.
Terrible, Thanks For Asking: Podcast host Nora McInerny encourages non-celebs to share how they're really feeling.
Good Mourning by Sally Douglas and Imogen Carn (£14.99, Murdoch Books): A guide for people who've suffered sudden loss, like the authors who both lost their mums.
Grief Works: Download this for daily meditations and expert tips.
How To Grieve Like A Champ by Lianna Champ (£3.99, Red Door Press): A book for improving your relationship with death.
Sandra now believes that people who knew Brett tried to rob him, and that he fought back and was killed.
'He was only a little chap,' she says.
Advertisement
'He was five foot five and a half. But I know he wouldn't have let anybody come into his house and not defended himself.
'I just don't understand how we're nearly a year on and no further forward.'
After Brett's body was repatriated, UK authorities held their own autopsy. The results have yet to be released.
'When we get those details, we can compare them with the Spanish postmortem report,' says Sandra.
Advertisement
'If I didn't have this to fight for, I don't think I'd be here.He was my only son.
'When I had him, I wasn't with his dad, so it was me and him until I met Rob.
'He was a great boy. He was always smiling. He had a really good heart. He was happy-go-lucky and he would help anybody if he could.'
Sandra says Brett's daughter is struggling to cope with the loss.
Advertisement
'She's a really brave little girl,' says Sandra.
I would hate for anybody to go through what we're going through. It's hell on earth every single day
Sandra Adams
'She talks about her daddy openly, but she talks about him as if he is still here. She misses him terribly because they were really close.'
And when Sandra was diagnosed with early-stage womb cancer in 2023 and needed a hysterectomy, Brett was there to support his doting mum.
On the anniversary of his death the family will fly out to Spain to remember him. Brett's daughter, his sister, Shannon and his aunt and his nieces and nephews will be there.
Advertisement
'I am going to lay flowers up at the villa,' says Sandra.
''We will go to Zeppelin Bar where he spent most of his nights with his friends and where I'm going to raise a glass to him.
'I'm going to make it a celebration of his life. I'm not dreading it because I feel close to him out there. I feel at peace there.'
But until she's satisfied that she knows what happened, Sandra remains in limbo. The family have set up a Go Fund Me page to help with their legal costs.
Advertisement
'I want justice, I want to know what happened and I want the police to take accountability for the mess they made of it because they clearly tried to cover it up in the beginning,' she says.
'I'm going to keep talking about it and keep looking for answers because I need to keep the case out there, and to let the authorities, and whoever did it, know that I'm not going away.'
A court spokesman previously said of the case: 'The investigation hasn't been suspended or closed. It is still open, and this incident remains under investigation.
"The court is waiting for the Guardia Civil to complete their full report and present their conclusions. For the time being there's nothing more we can say.'
Advertisement
The Sun reached out to the Guardia Civil for comment.
'I'm hoping that they do find who did this,' says Sandra.
'I would hate for anybody to go through what we're going through. It's hell on earth every single day.
'He was my only son. I don't think I'll ever come to terms with it. I think I'll cry every day for his loss. I navigate through my grief. I'm doing the best I can. He deserves justice.'
Advertisement
7
Sandra says getting to the truth of what happened is what keeps her going
Credit: Supplied
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scottish Sun
14 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Inside quiet rural Spanish town that's become flashpoint for anger at pro-immigration policy after OAP's savage beating
Images of the OAP's bloodied and scarred face were broadcast across Spain, sparking pity and anger MIGRANT RIOTS Inside quiet rural Spanish town that's become flashpoint for anger at pro-immigration policy after OAP's savage beating Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) SPRIGHTLY Domingo Tomas Martinez was taking his usual dawn stroll when he was battered so brutally that his eye wept blood. The beating, allegedly at the hands of a North African youth as two others looked on, sparked race riots that have rocked Spain. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 9 Masked men aremed with baseball bats out on the streets of Torre-Pacheco Credit: Getty 9 Domingo Martinez was savagely attacked on his morning walk, allegedly by a North African youth, sparking race riots that have rocked Spain 9 The race riots — the worst in Spain for decades — have left many questioning its socialist government's pro-immigration stance Credit: Reuters 'I didn't say anything to provoke them,' the 68-year-old retired farm worker from the southeastern town of Torre-Pacheco insisted. 'I had my watch and house keys with me, and that young man didn't even take the watch. He just hit me to hurt me. He hit me for fun.' If local gossip is to be believed, the blows rained down on Domingo were for social media likes. It left local hotheads — egged on by the far right — thirsting for revenge. READ MORE WORLD NEWS FLIGHT SCARE Wizz Air flight to London makes emergency landing after 'smoke fills cockpit' Once sleepy Torre-Pacheco, which lies amid the so-called 'vegetable garden of Europe', descended into three nights of inter-ethnic mob violence. The race riots — the worst in Spain for decades — have left many questioning its socialist government's pro-immigration stance. Policies have included making it easier for undocumented immigrants to become legal citizens. Torre-Pacheco's population has doubled to 40,000 over the last 30 years as workers have come from abroad to toil in the fields. Now, about a third of residents are foreign-born, many from Morocco. Professor Juan Antonio Soto, from the University of Navarra, told me: 'Torre-Pacheco isn't a fringe case. It's the frontline of Spain's migration model — and its failure to integrate newcomers.' Shock moment cops DRIVE INTO protester while under siege from yobs as chaos erupts over small boat migrant 'sex assault' Bloodied and scarred Britain, which saw eight police officers injured in clashes outside an Essex migrant hotel after an asylum seeker was accused of sexual assault this week has watched on uneasily as events unfolded in Spain. While some locals here in Torre-Pacheco tell me the explosion of violence has been brewing for decades, it was Domingo's beating which lit the blue touch paper. On July 9, the pensioner left his villa near the centre of Torre-Pacheco at around 5.30am for his daily stroll. Exercising before the stultifying daytime temperatures soared, he walked briskly towards the cemetery on his regular two-and-a-half-mile route. Then, he noticed three North African men, one of whom, armed with a stick, allegedly knocked him down and beat him. The pensioner believes the other two were recording what happened on their phones. Images of his bloodied and scarred face were broadcast across Spain, sparking pity and anger. Domingo would later offer a motive for the beating he allegedly received, saying: 'In town, they say the young kids are doing a dare, hitting someone to see who hits harder. 'And I think that's why they did it — to film everything.' Three men have been arrested, including a 19-year-old from Barcelona who was held trying to make his way to France. Then, on July 11, Torre-Pacheco's mayor rashly called for a rally in the Town Hall Square under the slogan, 'free from violence, free from crime'. Hundreds of residents, including those from an immigrant background, attended the demonstration, which was initially peaceful. Later, violence flared and locals and extremists from other parts of Spain began goading North Africans with shouts of, 'Moors, sons of bitches' and, 'Go back to your country'. Social media did its foul work. A fake video purportedly showing Domingo's beating did the rounds, while a Telegram group named Deport Them Now called for a migrant 'hunt'. Feral-looking youths seemed to take them at their word. For three nights, masked mobs swarmed the streets as darkness fell and the 35C temperatures abated. When the rabble reached the Moroccan district of San Antonio in the town, hooded youths looking just as menacing were waiting for them. Among the arsenal of weapons employed by both mobs were baseball bats, clubs and bottles. Riot cops fired rubber bullets to quell the unrest. On July 13, Hassan, the Moroccan owner of Don Kebabs, was forced to flee his takeaway when a 50-strong, balaclava-clad mob yelled at him: 'Shut up shop, moro (an insulting word for North Africans), today you're not going to work.' They then smashed the place up as Hassan and one of his staff fled through a back door. Santiago Abascal — leader of the far right Vox Party — looked to capitalise on the violence. 9 Fatrm labourer Mustafa Kawder and mechanic Mohammed in the San Antonio district dhave blamed racism for the violence Credit: Chris Eades 9 Salah El Hilali, owner of Cafeteria Estambul, says the town is tense and he fears trouble after 8pm — but still trusts the police to protect them Credit: Chris Eades 9 A protester taunts police who are trying to restore order in the town Credit: Reuters He released a video saying of migration: 'It has stolen our borders, it has stolen our peace and it has stolen our prosperity.' With his party sitting third in the polls, Abascal blamed the ruling Socialists and the conservative Popular Party for 'all the violence' and demanded 'immediate deportations'. 'Clash of cultures' Vox was the most popular party in Torre-Pacheco in the last town hall elections in 2019, capturing over 38 per cent of the vote. The mayhem left Britons with plush villas at the Mar Menor Resort on the outskirts of Torre-Pacheco wary of leaving the secure complex. One retiree there told me: 'There's a Spar supermarket and a poolside bar, so we luckily don't need to leave.' Enjoying the evening sun in San Antonio this week, motorcycle mechanic Mohammed, 30, told me: 'We don't want problems, we're not aggressive people, but we're not frightened of the racists.' He and his farm labourer friend Mustafa Kawder, 24, insisted they weren't involved in the violence. The immigrants who come here want to bring their culture and Sharia law with them. Javier Rubio, Protestor Mustafa, a £6.20-an-hour melon picker, added: 'There was a lot of racism here before all this happened. I was born in Morocco, but won't leave because of this. Spain is my home now.' In the centre of the town, I met Javier Rubio, 40, who has travelled down from Alicante to speak out against Muslim immigration because he believes 'there is a clash of cultures'. He says he has not been involved in the violence. Nevertheless, the sausage hanging from his waist — 'because Muslims don't like pork' — reveals the mark of the man. Previously working as a waiter in London for nine years, he said: 'The first week I was in England, I found work. I didn't claim benefits. I paid taxes and didn't commit any crime. 'And I didn't ask for running bulls through the streets of England. Go to Spain if you want that. "The immigrants who come here want to bring their culture and Sharia law with them.' At times, security forces were overwhelmed by the violence in Torre-Pacheco in the past week. They only got a grip on the gang warfare by sealing off entrances to the town from outside provocateurs. There have been at least five injuries and 14 arrests. Once a sleepy farming village, irrigation in the late 1970s turned its dustbowl fields into a fertile plain of lush olive and lemon groves. Soon, polytunnels were used to protect lettuce and artichoke crops while fields of ripening melons now ring the town. Thousands of labourers were needed to plant and harvest the crops and Spain looked abroad to fill shortages. Now the sprawling town is home to around 6,500 Moroccan-born workers as well as migrant communities hailing from Mali, Senegal, Romania and Ecuador. Professor Soto said: 'Many migrants arrived legally, but there's also been irregular migration, with thousands working in the informal economy or living in precarious housing.' Brought up in regional capital Murcia, the professor says some of Torre-Pacheco's schools have over 60 per cent of pupils from migrant backgrounds. Meanwhile, some migrants live in ramshackle properties that lack electricity or sanitation and, according to Professor Soto, have 'little meaningful integration' with Spanish society. In September 2021, a suspected suicide terror attack was unleashed in nearby Roldan. Moroccan-born Abdelllah Gmara stabbed himself then accelerated a VW Golf at over 60mph into the terrace of Honey's Bar, a popular venue with British expats. One diner was killed and others were injured. The driver, who reportedly left notes suggesting a jihadist motive, also died. Yet, outwardly at least, most in the town seemed to rub along. Professor Soto added: 'On the surface, things remained calm — but many locals felt ignored, especially as services became overwhelmed.' 'They have no identity' At the same time, many second and third-generation descendants of Moroccan immigrants are struggling for identity in a town where they face racist abuse from some. 'The problem is they have no identity,' said local sociologist Paulino Ros. 'They want to be Spanish and feel Spanish. Soon the police and the journalists will leave, and we will be in deep s**t. Paulino Ros, Sociologist 'But the people in the street's common insult is, 'Moorish s**t, go back to your country'.' The 57-year-old dad of two, who produces the Islam In Murcia blog, added: 'They were born in Spain and don't know Morocco, so they are foreigners at home. 'They have this conflict of identity and this is a problem. When you are a teenager, your mind is crazy.' Now, uneasy tension shrouds the town. At the Cafeteria Estambul in the heart of San Antonio, boss Salah El Hilali, 56, told me: 'I get worried after 8pm when the attacks were coming. But we trust the police who are defending us.' Above the counter, a picture of the Spanish football team is proudly displayed. Enjoying a coffee, Moroccan-born Ayyad Houssin, 35, said: 'I'm worried for the future. So many people support Vox now.' Sociologist Paulino is equally downbeat. 'Soon the police and the journalists will leave,' he added. 'And we will be in deep s**t.' 9 Nazi grafiti daubed on a road sign Credit: Chris Eades 9 The mayhem has left Britons with plush villas at the Mar Menor Resort on the outskirts of Torre-Pacheco wary of leaving the secure complex Credit: Reuters
Scottish Sun
a day ago
- Scottish Sun
My son had the dream life in Spain – then a phone call changed everything, I may never get the answers I need
Sandra Adams claims that hidden security footage could be hiding the secrets she needs MUM'S PLEA My son had the dream life in Spain – then a phone call changed everything, I may never get the answers I need A YEAR ago, Sandra Adams received a call that will haunt her for the rest of her life. She was on her way home from work on 22 July last year and she says at that moment her old life ended. Advertisement 7 Breet Dryden was found dead in his home in Spain Credit: Supplied 7 Heartrboken mum Sandra Adams believes that her son was killed Credit: Supplied She was told that her only son Brett Dryden, had been found dead at his home in Spain. While Sandra says that at times the grief is unbearable, she is kept going by her quest for the truth about the circumstances of his death. She is driven by a burning sense of injustice, because she believes police bungled the initial investigation and Brett's death remains a mystery- one she is determined to solve. Brett seemingly had the perfect life in the sun. The 35-year-old father-of-one, originally from County Durham, moved to Spain in 2019 with his partner. Advertisement They had a daughter. The relationship didn't work out and the couple split but Brett stayed in Spain to build his business and remained a doting father. He lived in the laid-back Spanish seaside town of Mojácar in the province of Almería where he ran a legal cannabis club called The Dawg House. Sandra, from Chester-Le-Street, says: 'When he moved, I was devastated but it was his choice. 'He had an amazing life there. He loved it. He had loads of friends and said he would never move back.' Advertisement But that dream life ended on July 22 last year, the day Sandra received a call from one of Brett's friends in Spain who had found his body in his villa. 'I couldn't believe what I was hearing,' she says. Tributes Pour In for Father-of-Three Who Tragically Died in Benidorm 'My world caved in, I was in utter disbelief and I'm still in shock today.' In a daze, Sandra, a carer, 56, and her husband and Brett's stepdad Rob flew to Spain that day. Advertisement One of the friends who found Brett claimed he'd overheard the Spanish police known as the Guardia Civil saying they believed Brett had been struck in the head with an axe. However, the friends had been allowed to walk through the villa several times, which was potentially a murder scene. A post-mortem was performed the following day. It concluded Brett died of a pulmonary embolism, caused by a blood clot in his lungs. The case was closed. 'They said it was a terrible accident. He fell and banged his head,' Sandra explains. Advertisement She was immediately sceptical. Rob had taken photos and video of blood stains in several locations around the property. Her suspicions were further raised when she went to see her son's body. 7 Brett moved to Spain with his daughter and partner but when they returned to England he decided to stay put Credit: Supplied 7 Initially Brett's death was ruled as accidental but his parents don't believe this is the case Credit: Supplied Advertisement 7 'He was in the chapel of rest, and there was a huge wound in the side of his head,' she recalls. 'I knew in my gut that something was not right. He had other visible injuries. To me it looked like there had been a struggle.' The family have only recently been given details of what was contained in the full Spanish autopsy report. Advertisement They hired a Spanish lawyer who gained access to official documents in the case. According to him, the autopsy report detailed injuries to Brett's legs, arms, head and neck and fingernail marks, cuts and bruises on his face. There were nail wounds to his lips and neck. There was also a four-centimetre wound to his head and bruising to his ear, eye and skull on his left side. Pathologists found internal bleeding to the right side of his head and 'intense encephalic congestion' - an injury resulting in the brain's blood vessels becoming swollen and congested. Advertisement The report also reveals police had admitted to pathologists that Brett had been the victim of a home invasion. I just don't understand how we're nearly a year on and no further forward Sandra Adams The report stated: 'During the examination signs of a struggle were observed on the body such as droplets of blood in various locations on the body.' Despite all this the autopsy also said there was cocaine in Brett's system and concluded this was what triggered the pulmonary embolism and within a day of the original postmortem the case was closed. Still raw and in shock at their loss, Sandra and Rob did their own digging. Advertisement They discovered several of Brett's personal belongings were missing including his mobile phone, his wallet and his designer sunglasses. In the days after his death Sandra used Brett's MacBook to track the missing iPhone which was still being used and pinged at several locations in the nearby town of Vera. She showed the police. Four days after Brett's death, with so many unanswered questions, a local court ordered the police to reopen the case and treat it as a homicide investigation. Sandra believes cops were hoping to sweep the death under the carpet to protect the reputation of the area, which relies on tourism. Advertisement 'If they could have covered it up, they would have done,' claims Sandra. In addition to the phone location, the Adams also discovered potential CCTV evidence after Rob knocked on neighbours' doors looking for video footage. Sandra explains: 'One neighbour confirmed they had footage but under Spanish law they're not allowed to give the CCTV footage to anybody but the police, who now have the footage. 'We haven't seen it but our lawyer has seen reference to it in the police reports, which he says clearly shows two people leaving Brett's villa the day he died. Advertisement 'He says the people were carrying what appeared to be the same type of bag Brett used to carry the takings from his club. 'What's more, the manager of Brett's club also told police that he was on the phone to Brett before he died and that Brett cut the conversation short with the words: 'I've got to go, they're here.'' Where to seek grief support Need professional help with grief? Child Bereavement UK Cruse Bereavement Relate The Good Grief Trust You can also always speak to your GP if you're struggling. You're Not Alone Check out these books, podcasts and apps that all expertly navigate grief… Griefcast: Cariad Lloyd interviews comedians on this award-winning podcast. The Madness Of Grief by Rev Richard Coles (£9.99, W&N): The Strictly fave writes movingly on losing his husband David to alcoholism. Terrible, Thanks For Asking: Podcast host Nora McInerny encourages non-celebs to share how they're really feeling. Good Mourning by Sally Douglas and Imogen Carn (£14.99, Murdoch Books): A guide for people who've suffered sudden loss, like the authors who both lost their mums. Grief Works: Download this for daily meditations and expert tips. How To Grieve Like A Champ by Lianna Champ (£3.99, Red Door Press): A book for improving your relationship with death. Sandra now believes that people who knew Brett tried to rob him, and that he fought back and was killed. 'He was only a little chap,' she says. Advertisement 'He was five foot five and a half. But I know he wouldn't have let anybody come into his house and not defended himself. 'I just don't understand how we're nearly a year on and no further forward.' After Brett's body was repatriated, UK authorities held their own autopsy. The results have yet to be released. 'When we get those details, we can compare them with the Spanish postmortem report,' says Sandra. Advertisement 'If I didn't have this to fight for, I don't think I'd be was my only son. 'When I had him, I wasn't with his dad, so it was me and him until I met Rob. 'He was a great boy. He was always smiling. He had a really good heart. He was happy-go-lucky and he would help anybody if he could.' Sandra says Brett's daughter is struggling to cope with the loss. Advertisement 'She's a really brave little girl,' says Sandra. I would hate for anybody to go through what we're going through. It's hell on earth every single day Sandra Adams 'She talks about her daddy openly, but she talks about him as if he is still here. She misses him terribly because they were really close.' And when Sandra was diagnosed with early-stage womb cancer in 2023 and needed a hysterectomy, Brett was there to support his doting mum. On the anniversary of his death the family will fly out to Spain to remember him. Brett's daughter, his sister, Shannon and his aunt and his nieces and nephews will be there. Advertisement 'I am going to lay flowers up at the villa,' says Sandra. ''We will go to Zeppelin Bar where he spent most of his nights with his friends and where I'm going to raise a glass to him. 'I'm going to make it a celebration of his life. I'm not dreading it because I feel close to him out there. I feel at peace there.' But until she's satisfied that she knows what happened, Sandra remains in limbo. The family have set up a Go Fund Me page to help with their legal costs. Advertisement 'I want justice, I want to know what happened and I want the police to take accountability for the mess they made of it because they clearly tried to cover it up in the beginning,' she says. 'I'm going to keep talking about it and keep looking for answers because I need to keep the case out there, and to let the authorities, and whoever did it, know that I'm not going away.' A court spokesman previously said of the case: 'The investigation hasn't been suspended or closed. It is still open, and this incident remains under investigation. "The court is waiting for the Guardia Civil to complete their full report and present their conclusions. For the time being there's nothing more we can say.' Advertisement The Sun reached out to the Guardia Civil for comment. 'I'm hoping that they do find who did this,' says Sandra. 'I would hate for anybody to go through what we're going through. It's hell on earth every single day. 'He was my only son. I don't think I'll ever come to terms with it. I think I'll cry every day for his loss. I navigate through my grief. I'm doing the best I can. He deserves justice.' Advertisement 7 Sandra says getting to the truth of what happened is what keeps her going Credit: Supplied
The Sun
a day ago
- The Sun
My son had the dream life in Spain – then a phone call changed everything, I may never get the answers I need
A YEAR ago, Sandra Adams received a call that will haunt her for the rest of her life. She was on her way home from work on 22 July last year and she says at that moment her old life ended. 6 6 She was told that her only son Brett Dryden, had been found dead at his home in Spain. While Sandra says that at times the grief is unbearable, she is kept going by her quest for the truth about the circumstances of his death. She is driven by a burning sense of injustice, because she believes police bungled the initial investigation and Brett's death remains a mystery- one she is determined to solve. Brett seemingly had the perfect life in the sun. The 35-year-old father-of-one, originally from County Durham, moved to Spain in 2019 with his partner. They had a daughter. The relationship didn't work out and the couple split but Brett stayed in Spain to build his business and remained a doting father. He lived in the laid-back Spanish seaside town of Mojácar in the province of Almería where he ran a legal cannabis club called The Dawg House. Sandra, from Chester-Le-Street, says: 'When he moved, I was devastated but it was his choice. 'He had an amazing life there. He loved it. He had loads of friends and said he would never move back.' But that dream life ended on July 22 last year, the day Sandra received a call from one of Brett's friends in Spain who had found his body in his villa. 'I couldn't believe what I was hearing,' she says. Tributes Pour In for Father-of-Three Who Tragically Died in Benidorm 'My world caved in, I was in utter disbelief and I'm still in shock today.' In a daze, Sandra, a carer, 56, and her husband and Brett's stepdad Rob flew to Spain that day. One of the friends who found Brett claimed he'd overheard the Spanish police known as the Guardia Civil saying they believed Brett had been struck in the head with an axe. However, the friends had been allowed to walk through the villa several times, which was potentially a murder scene. A post-mortem was performed the following day. It concluded Brett died of a pulmonary embolism, caused by a blood clot in his lungs. The case was closed. 'They said it was a terrible accident. He fell and banged his head,' Sandra explains. She was immediately sceptical. Rob had taken photos and video of blood stains in several locations around the property. Her suspicions were further raised when she went to see her son's body. 6 6 'He was in the chapel of rest, and there was a huge wound in the side of his head,' she recalls. 'I knew in my gut that something was not right. He had other visible injuries. To me it looked like there had been a struggle.' The family have only recently been given details of what was contained in the full Spanish autopsy report. They hired a Spanish lawyer who gained access to official documents in the case. According to him, the autopsy report detailed injuries to Brett's legs, arms, head and neck and fingernail marks, cuts and bruises on his face. There were nail wounds to his lips and neck. There was also a four-centimetre wound to his head and bruising to his ear, eye and skull on his left side. Pathologists found internal bleeding to the right side of his head and 'intense encephalic congestion' - an injury resulting in the brain's blood vessels becoming swollen and congested. The report also reveals police had admitted to pathologists that Brett had been the victim of a home invasion. The report stated: 'During the examination signs of a struggle were observed on the body such as droplets of blood in various locations on the body.' Despite all this the autopsy also said there was cocaine in Brett's system and concluded this was what triggered the pulmonary embolism and within a day of the original postmortem the case was closed. Still raw and in shock at their loss, Sandra and Rob did their own digging. They discovered several of Brett's personal belongings were missing including his mobile phone, his wallet and his designer sunglasses. In the days after his death Sandra used Brett's MacBook to track the missing iPhone which was still being used and pinged at several locations in the nearby town of Vera. She showed the police. Four days after Brett's death, with so many unanswered questions, a local court ordered the police to reopen the case and treat it as a homicide investigation. Sandra believes cops were hoping to sweep the death under the carpet to protect the reputation of the area, which relies on tourism. 'If they could have covered it up, they would have done,' claims Sandra. In addition to the phone location, the Adams also discovered potential CCTV evidence after Rob knocked on neighbours' doors looking for video footage. Sandra explains: 'One neighbour confirmed they had footage but under Spanish law they're not allowed to give the CCTV footage to anybody but the police, who now have the footage. 'We haven't seen it but our lawyer has seen reference to it in the police reports, which he says clearly shows two people leaving Brett's villa the day he died. 'He says the people were carrying what appeared to be the same type of bag Brett used to carry the takings from his club. 'What's more, the manager of Brett's club also told police that he was on the phone to Brett before he died and that Brett cut the conversation short with the words: 'I've got to go, they're here.'' Where to seek grief support Need professional help with grief? Child Bereavement UK Cruse Bereavement Relate The Good Grief Trust You can also always speak to your GP if you're struggling. You're Not Alone Check out these books, podcasts and apps that all expertly navigate grief… Griefcast: Cariad Lloyd interviews comedians on this award-winning podcast. The Madness Of Grief by Rev Richard Coles (£9.99, W&N): The Strictly fave writes movingly on losing his husband David to alcoholism. Terrible, Thanks For Asking: Podcast host Nora McInerny encourages non-celebs to share how they're really feeling. Good Mourning by Sally Douglas and Imogen Carn (£14.99, Murdoch Books): A guide for people who've suffered sudden loss, like the authors who both lost their mums. Grief Works: Download this for daily meditations and expert tips. How To Grieve Like A Champ by Lianna Champ (£3.99, Red Door Press): A book for improving your relationship with death. Sandra now believes that people who knew Brett tried to rob him, and that he fought back and was killed. 'He was only a little chap,' she says. 'He was five foot five and a half. But I know he wouldn't have let anybody come into his house and not defended himself. 'I just don't understand how we're nearly a year on and no further forward.' After Brett's body was repatriated, UK authorities held their own autopsy. The results have yet to be released. 'When we get those details, we can compare them with the Spanish postmortem report,' says Sandra. 'If I didn't have this to fight for, I don't think I'd be was my only son. 'When I had him, I wasn't with his dad, so it was me and him until I met Rob. 'He was a great boy. He was always smiling. He had a really good heart. He was happy-go-lucky and he would help anybody if he could.' Sandra says Brett's daughter is struggling to cope with the loss. 'She's a really brave little girl,' says Sandra. 'She talks about her daddy openly, but she talks about him as if he is still here. She misses him terribly because they were really close.' And when Sandra was diagnosed with early-stage womb cancer in 2023 and needed a hysterectomy, Brett was there to support his doting mum. On the anniversary of his death the family will fly out to Spain to remember him. Brett's daughter, his sister, Shannon and his aunt and his nieces and nephews will be there. 'I am going to lay flowers up at the villa,' says Sandra. ''We will go to Zeppelin Bar where he spent most of his nights with his friends and where I'm going to raise a glass to him. 'I'm going to make it a celebration of his life. I'm not dreading it because I feel close to him out there. I feel at peace there.' But until she's satisfied that she knows what happened, Sandra remains in limbo. The family have set up a Go Fund Me page to help with their legal costs. 'I want justice, I want to know what happened and I want the police to take accountability for the mess they made of it because they clearly tried to cover it up in the beginning,' she says. 'I'm going to keep talking about it and keep looking for answers because I need to keep the case out there, and to let the authorities, and whoever did it, know that I'm not going away.' A court spokesman previously said of the case: 'The investigation hasn't been suspended or closed. It is still open, and this incident remains under investigation. "The court is waiting for the Guardia Civil to complete their full report and present their conclusions. For the time being there's nothing more we can say.' The Sun reached out to the Guardia Civil for comment. 'I'm hoping that they do find who did this,' says Sandra. 'I would hate for anybody to go through what we're going through. It's hell on earth every single day. 'He was my only son. I don't think I'll ever come to terms with it. I think I'll cry every day for his loss. I navigate through my grief. I'm doing the best I can. He deserves justice.' 6 6
