Man who led search for missing brother dies without answers

By Ed Chatterton

The brother of one of the "Milk Carton Kids" who led the search for the missing boys has tragically died aged 39 without ever knowing what happened to his sibling.

Lee O'Toole spent decades searching for answers over the disappearance of his brother David Spencer, 13, and pal Patrick "Paddy" Warren, 11, who vanished 30 years ago.

The schoolboys had been out playing in Chelmsley Wood, Birmingham, when they went missing on Boxing Day, 1996.

Detectives initially treated them as runaways, saying there was no evidence to suspect they had come to any harm.

David and Patrick became known across the country as the "Milk Carton Kids" after police printed appeals for information on milk containers in a bid to trace them.

But the bodies of the pair have never been found despite numerous appeals and searches over the years.

The last known sighting of them was at a gas station at 12:45 a.m. on December 27, 1996.

A Channel 4 documentary claimed child-killer Brian Field had been seen with the boys in the days before they vanished.

In 2021, Lee - who was nine when his brother disappeared - led a dig near to a soccer stadium after receiving a tip-off following the TV show.

Hundreds of volunteers helped search land off Damson Wood Lane, near Solihull Moors FC, but no trace of the boys was found.

Devastated family members have now revealed Lee passed away on September 16 without ever knowing what happened to his brother.

A post on the Milk Carton Kids' social media page said: "I am writing this with a very heavy heart but Lee O'Toole, David's brother, passed away on September 16.

"As you all know Lee done everything in his powers to try to find his brother and Paddy and constantly told us how grateful he was to everyone in the community and everyone who helped during the dig in 2021.

"Lee was the strongest man we know and we want him to be remembered for his bravery and determination in everything he did.

"We know now that Lee will have the answers he has always wanted and will be with David and that's all he ever wanted.

"So thank you to each and every one of you for all your love and support you gave him, God bless you all.

"Rest in paradise Lee, you will be forever missed and loved so so much by us.

"Fly high our beautiful angel until we meet again, we love you, Love Marie and your babies."

One well-wisher commented: "Shocked I knew Lee really well and grew up in chelmsley wood and knew the boys who went missing sad times all round and I hope you rest in peace bro you were a top man and would do anything for anyone sleep tight bro."

Another added: "This is so heartbreaking. I hope you and your brother are together in heaven."

A GoFundMe page set up to raise money towards Lee's funeral has reached over £2,600 ($3,470).

The page reads: "Hi we are Lee's family, and since Lee has passed on the 16th September we have had a numerous amounts of beautiful messages and kind words and condolences from lots of people which we will be forever grateful for.

"We have been asked by a number of people if they could gift money to help towards Lee's funeral.

"This is not something as a family we want to do, but we realised the amount of love and support from people who also loved Lee and would like to help us give him the send-off he truly deserves. We really appreciate this with all our hearts.

"So we have set this up for those people who would like to gift towards Lee's funeral.

"Under current circumstances we do not yet have any date set for Lee's funeral, once funeral arrangements have been confirmed we will share this information with everyone.

"Again a massive thank you to everyone at this difficult time."

Speaking at the time of the dig, Lee had said he had decided to act after they received "credible" new information following the TV programme.

Lee said: "The community is doing what the police should do.

"A man contacted me directly to say he had seen a man digging in a field off Damson Wood Lane, near Solihull Moors Football Club, at the time they disappeared.

"Apparently he's been telling the police for years and they've never acted on it.

"I don't know what more police need. They've left me no choice other than to put the shovel in the ground."

It wasn't the first time land near the football club has been searched for the two boys.

In 2003, police announced that they had arrested a 37-year-old man in connection with the disappearances but he was later released on bail and has never been charged.

In 2006, the police announced they were "closer than ever" to solving the mystery of what happened but no one has ever been charged with their abduction.

Following the review of the case in 2006, convicted murderer and pedophile Brian Field was interviewed by officers.

Field denied any involvement in the boys' disappearance and police said he was just one line of inquiry in their investigation.

Field was living in Solihull when he was stopped for drink-driving in 1999.

He was jailed for life in 2001 for the rape and murder of 14-year-old Surrey schoolboy Roy Tutill, killed in 1968.

Field died in prison in February 2024 at the age of 87.