The family of Josh Rogers, a 33-year-old British holidaymaker who died on the Costa Brava in September, is questioning the Spanish police's conclusion that his death was accidental. They allege that crucial evidence was overlooked and that the investigation was prematurely closed, with the local Mossos d'Esquadra force attributing his death to cocaine and alcohol exacerbating an underlying heart condition. The Crime Desk investigation has brought to light new information, including admissions from a taxi driver who was one of the last people to see Rogers alive.
Rogers arrived in Lloret de Mar on September 19, the night before he was found. He had planned to watch a Wolverhampton Wanderers football match at a local bar the following afternoon. His final message, sent to his mother's partner Stu around lunchtime on September 20, read: "Mate, I've f****ed up good and proper." His body was discovered three days later in a wooded area on a hillside, a significant distance from his hotel and not a typical tourist area. Rogers' phone, bank card, and €600 in cash were missing. A witness also reportedly suggested his body may have been moved before police arrived, fueling suspicions of foul play.
The investigation into Rogers' death has faced criticism, with his family highlighting similarities to other cases involving Britons in Spain where they claim Spanish authorities have mishandled investigations. For example, Brett Dryden was found dead in Almeria in July 2024 with a head wound, which a British pathologist deemed consistent with murder, though Spanish authorities blamed drugs. Two months later, Nathan Osman's body was found at the foot of a cliff in Benidorm, ruled an accident despite attempts to use his bank cards afterward.
Rogers' family contacted The Crime Desk after Spanish police dismissed evidence they provided, including messages exchanged with a taxi driver. Rogers had booked a taxi from Barcelona airport to his Lloret de Mar hotel. During their communication, Rogers inquired about purchasing two grams of cocaine, to which the driver responded affirmatively, stating he would try to source it. The driver admitted to taking Rogers to the area of The Londoner nightclub, known for drug dealing, to buy cocaine before dropping him at his hotel.
Hotel CCTV footage shows Rogers checked in around 1 a.m. and sent messages to Stu, including a video tour of his room, indicating he seemed relaxed. However, his family believes he may have already been under the influence of drugs. The taxi driver claims Rogers contacted him again at 3:38 a.m. asking for help finding a prostitute, which the driver says he declined.
Rogers made several calls to another taxi firm later that morning, with one call lasting 26 seconds and his voice heard requesting a taxi to his hotel. The family expressed skepticism about the possibility of him seeking a prostitute, stating it seemed out of character. Security footage shows Rogers leaving his hotel room at 12:23 p.m. on September 20, heading in the direction of the woods where his body was later found.
The walk to the location where Rogers was found is steep and challenging, particularly for someone with his mobility issues due to Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease. The family speculates he may have been picked up by someone he met near the nightclub, leading to his final, panicked message to Stu at 12:30 p.m.
Further complicating matters, the family claims the Spanish police were dismissive of their attempts to identify a Spanish phone number Rogers texted shortly before leaving his hotel. CCTV footage from the kebab shop where Rogers stopped and from the surrounding area near his hotel has not been made available or has since been deleted, hindering the investigation.
Rogers' body was discovered by a local resident who initially believed he was asleep before realizing he was deceased. The witness claimed the body had been moved, a detail the family believes was overlooked. Pathology reports noted scratches and bruises on Rogers' body, which his sister Ashley stated were consistent with being dragged.
Communication regarding Rogers' death was also problematic. His mother Dionne received a text message from the taxi driver informing her of the discovery before official confirmation from authorities. The family faced significant delays in identifying Rogers' body due to a lack of identification on him, requiring a DNA sample from his mother. Upon finally viewing the body 13 weeks later, the family found it had decomposed significantly and was not properly stored, leading to them being unable to repatriate it to the UK. They allege they were pressured into having him cremated in Spain.
Rogers' missing mobile phone has reportedly been active twice since his death, and his bank card was last used at Birmingham Airport. The family has hired a private detective to continue seeking answers, funded partly by a GoFundMe page. They are determined to uncover the truth behind his death, questioning the official narrative that he simply walked into the woods and died naturally.