Millionaire’s son Alexander Stern, 36, found dead in the Thames 4 months after disappearing near George Clooney mansion
A MILLIONAIRE’S son was found dead in the Thames four months after disappearing near George Clooney’s mansion, an inquest heard. Alexander Stern, 36, was seen on CCTV carrying a suitcase away from a pub in exclusive Sonning, Berkshire, on the evening of January 11 last year. The stationery fortune heir’s body was found four months […]
A MILLIONAIRE’S son was found dead in the Thames four months after disappearing near George Clooney’s mansion, an inquest heard.
Alexander Stern, 36, was seen on CCTV carrying a suitcase away from a pub in exclusive Sonning, Berkshire, on the evening of January 11 last year.
The stationery fortune heir’s body was found four months later by a canoeist.
An inquest today heard Mr Stern – son of Britain’s top Ferrari collector Ronald Stern – was reported missing three days after he disappeared.
Investigators probing his disappearance later learned he paid £120 for a cab ride out of London after withdrawing £20,000 from a cashpoint.
He booked a three-night stay at a London hotel – but instead left the capital and travelled to Sonning.
After his arrival in the idyllic village, he was seen at the Bull Inn public house on the evening of January 11 for around an hour.
The former Rugby School pupil is believed to have then gone into the river.
Cops would later discover a rucksack containing Mr Stern’s belongings – but no sign of him.
His body floated to the surface 1.3 miles downstream before being found by on April 4 last year.
A post mortem was unable to conclude a cause of death.
Mr Stern’s mum Susan told the hearing her son had struggled throughout his life with an “inability to differentiate fact from fiction”.
Mrs Stern added: “Over the last six weeks or so, I felt he as weighing up suicide or a new beginning.
“He ran out of energy and options and realised the extent of his emptiness.”
The inquest heard Mr Stern used a “substantial” inheritance from his grandmother to travel in Morocco, Spain, Portugal and also South America for three years.
You are not alone
EVERY 90 minutes in the UK a life is lost to suicide.
It doesn’t discriminate, touching the lives of people in every corner of society – from the homeless and unemployed to builders and doctors, reality stars and footballers.
It’s the biggest killer of people under the age of 35, more deadly than cancer and car crashes.
And men are three times more likely to take their own life than women.
Yet it’s rarely spoken of, a taboo that threatens to continue its deadly rampage unless we all stop and take notice, now.
That is why The Sun launched the You’re Not Alone campaign.
The aim is that by sharing practical advice, raising awareness and breaking down the barriers people face when talking about their mental health, we can all do our bit to help save lives.
Let’s all vow to ask for help when we need it, and listen out for others… You’re Not Alone.
If you, or anyone you know, needs help dealing with mental health problems, the following organisations provide support:
- CALM, www.thecalmzone.net, 0800 585 858
- Heads Together, www.headstogether.org.uk
- Mind, www.mind.org.uk, 0300 123 3393
- Papyrus, www.papyrus-uk.org, 0800 068 41 41
- Samaritans, www.samaritans.org, 116 123
As a child he attended The Hall preparatory school and Cheltenham Junior School, but as he grew up developed a “total disregard for the value of money.”
While at Edinburgh University he asked for more money on top of his allowance and stopped attending classes.
Before his death, regular cocaine-taker Mr Stern was working on an MA degree in business and shifting at a cafe near his apartment in Chelsea.
He had been attending Narcotics Anonymous meetings, and was diagnosed with ADHD and an emotionally unstable personality disorder.
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Alan Blake, assistant coroner for Berkshire, recorded a verdict of suicide.
Mr Blake said: “Alexander Stern was a young man who had a troubled mental health history.
“While he evidently had a number of gifts and qualities, his adult life did not deliver the success and stability that he evidently craved.”
- If you have been affected by any of the issues in this article, The Samaritans are available 24/7 via freephone 116 123 or by email https://www.samaritans.org/