THE family of missing man Chris May have begged his killer to put an end to their suffering.

Officers are now carrying out a murder investigation following the disappearance of the 28-year-old from Kelvedon on May 25 last year.

His mum Lorraine May, older sister Charlene May and younger sister Gemma May gathered at their home in Parsonage Street, Halstead, on the one year anniversary of Chris’ disappearance.

Mum Lorraine said: “I don’t think people realise we are not coping. We are in limbo and go through everyday stuff, but it’s never quite the same.

“We were hoping he had taken himself off somewhere but he would not put us through this. I don’t want to believe it’s true.”

Mr May disappeared after visit- ing his dad in Mount Road, Coggeshall, at around 9.45am on May 25.

He sent a text to a friend in Kelvedon to say he was going to Braintree, but his phone was switched off from 11.50am and his car was found two days later.

The police have received four anonymous letters since his disappearance, with at least one saying he was dead and another saying he was in hiding.

Mrs May said: “Who would write these letters? For me, someone writing a letter if they don’t know somehing – it’s a nasty thing to do.

“We need answers and someone does know where he went that day.

“We would like to say to those people that do have answers and haven’t come forward; put yourselves in our shoes.

“How would you feel if it was one of your loved ones? One day they disappeared. No sight of them anywhere. No explanation. Please, whoever you are, whatever you know, we are begging you to put an end to our family’s suffering.”

Chris’ older sister Charlene described him as a joker. She said: “I would drink with him quite a lot and he would always keep everyone entertained.

“If someone knows what’s happened to him it’s very unlikely they have not told someone else.

“Someone knows and they’re not telling us.”

Younger sister Gemma said: “He used to look after me. He was my older brother and he used to stay at my house if I was worried and he would like after my little girl.

"It makes you angry because someone does know something and they are not doing anything."

Family liaison officer Det Con Nick Campbell said: “It’s been a long hard journey for the family.

“The family cannot move forward, have a sense of closure or grieve properly without the return of the body of their loved one.”

Anyone with information should call 101, e-mail scdappeals@essex.

pnn.police.uk, or call Crimestop pers anonymously on 0800 555 111.