The worried mum of a missing teen says he was talking to someone while playing video games on his PlayStation 5 and she fears he may have been groomed online.
Evidence Joel said she suspects her 19-year-old son Richard Okorogheye went to see someone he met on the internet who "built (his) confidence and trust", and vital time was lost early in the investigation as police allegedly "ignored" her.
Ms Joel previously told how detectives had taken the Oxford Brookes University student's PlayStation 5 and computer from his bedroom to be examined by experts for any possible clues, and she feared he had been groomed.
Vulnerable Mr Okorogheye, who has sickle cell disease, hasn't been heard from since he left his home in Ladbroke Grove, west London, 11 days ago, at about 8.30pm on March 22.
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About six hours later, he was seen 16 miles away in Loughton, Essex, as he walked alone on a quiet residential street in the direction of Epping Forest, where the search is now focused.
Police only discovered the taxi ride this week and began searching the forest on Wednesday, nine days after Mr Okorogheye told his mum he was going out to see a friend.
Police say they don't know why the young man travelled to Loughton by taxi.
Ms Joel said she was shocked when told her son had travelled across the capital to Loughton, as he had never mentioned or visited the London suburb previously.
Asked if she believes he met someone online, she said: "Most definitely."
She said "I don't know" when asked whether she believes her son is alive.
Ms Joel told Sky News: "I think he went to meet somebody. Definitely. Richard cannot go there. Especially at that time in the morning... someone was waiting for Richard."
She said she had overheard her son talking to someone while he played on his PlayStation 5.
He would laugh and sound "very happy".
The mum added: "Definitely, he was talking to someone. Someone that he trusted and was fond of. Maybe the person gave him confidence.
"Somehow knew his aspirations, his interests, so he confided in that person, built confidence and trust."
Due to his condition, Mr Okorogheye had been shielding at home during the coronavirus pandemic. He requires medication and monthly blood transfusions.
The first-year business and IT student had been doing his studies online.
Ms Joel previously told how he had been "struggling" due to the isolation, and she feared he may be depressed.
She had also revealed her fears that her son may have been groomed online by someone who was now "holding him against his will".
The Met Police has not said there is anything to suggest foul play.
Ms Joel told Channel 4 News: "I feel somebody has Richard. This is out of character. I feel that Richard walked into something that he was not expecting."
Begging home to "come home", she added: "I do love him so much because he’s the only one I have."
Ms Joel said her son's favourite meal is spaghetti and she had made sauce for him the day he disappeared.
She added through tears: "It’s still there in the fridge waiting for him."
Detectives traced Mr Okorogheye to Loughton after analysing his financial activity, which showed he had paid for a taxi.
The force said there has been no activity on his mobile phone, and his "laptops and computers" were being examined by experts at a lab.
Mr Okorogheye left home while his mum, a nurse, was at work on the night of March 22.
In a previously confirmed sighting that same evening, Mr Okorogheye was seen boarding the 23 bus southbound in Ladbroke Grove at 8.44pm.
Ms Joel said he didn't take his medication, wallet or jacket.
He was wearing black clothing and a face mask, and had a black satchel bag with a white Adidas logo across his lower back.
CCTV footage showed him getting out of a taxi and walking past a pub in Loughton, towards 6,000-acre Epping Forest, just before 12.40am on March 23.
He was reported missing on March 24.
Ms Joel said the police "ignored" her and didn't take her seriously at first, but are now "responding very well" after she complained to reporters.
She suggested to Channel 4 News that the police didn't take her seriously or treat her son as a high-risk missing person because she is black and doesn't speak "perfect" English.
She claims an officer had initially told her: "If you can't find your son, how do you expect police officers to find your son for you?'"
Police defended their work on the case, saying officers are "following every lead possible" and "working tirelessly to locate Richard".
Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101 quoting 21MIS008134.
