The mother of a missing teenage boy has been forced to publicly deny any involvement in his suspected murder after cruel online trolls wrongly accused her following the arrest of a woman in the case.

Taylor Charlton, 14, disappeared on May 8 in Barnstaple, North Devon. His body was recovered from the River Taw after a six-week search involving helicopters, dive teams, and hundreds of volunteers.

Police investigating his death have arrested two people on suspicion of murder — a 20-year-old man (released on bail) and a woman in her 40s. The arrests sparked vicious speculation online wrongly implicating Taylor’s heartbroken mother, Zoe Harvey.

In an emotional response shared in the Find Taylor Charlton Facebook group, a family friend stated clearly that the arrested woman was not Taylor’s grieving mum. Zoe herself commented angrily:

“I am nothing to do with my son’s murder!”

The family has faced immense pain, including online trolls mocking Taylor’s death. Zoe and her partner Alex Charlton previously issued heartfelt appeals for information and thanked the public for their support during the extensive search.

Police have described the investigation as being at an “early stage” and urged the public to stop speculating. Taylor was last seen on CCTV walking towards the River Taw wearing a blue top, jeans, and distinctive blue Nike trainers. His shoes were later found along the riverbank.

This remains a developing story with many unanswered questions. Devon & Cornwall Police continue to appeal for information.