The mother of a British man who died in Spain has accused authorities of a ‘cover-up’ after finally receiving his autopsy results, which revealed multiple injuries and signs of a struggle.
Brett Dryden, 35, was found dead at his home in Mojacar on the Costa Almeria on July 22.
His mother Sandra Adams said authorities initially told her that her son – who leaves behind his young daughter, Charley – had died of a pulmonary embolism.
But according to the autopsy report, seen by MailOnline, there were definite ‘signs of a struggle’ and Mr Dryden had multiple head injuries at the time of his death, including a four-cm gash to the head.
Last week Ms Adams made the heartbreaking journey to where Mr Dryden died, in a voyage she described as ‘soul destroying’.
The trip coincided with what would have been his 36th birthday – and Ms Adams was joined by extended family and friends.
She had planned to stage a protest against Spanish authorities, but cancelled this after learning she could face prosecution without giving them 40 days notice.
Now Ms Adams is searching for answers about what happened to her son, and said authorities in Spain were extremely reluctant to hand over a copy of the autopsy report. She fears police are reticent to investigate for fear of damaging the tourism trade.
Brett Dryden, 35, was found dead at his home in Mojacar on the Costa Almeria on July 22 (Pictured during a trip to Disneyland days before his death)
His mother Sandra Adams said authorities initially told her that her son – who leaves behind his young daughter, Charley – had died of a pulmonary embolism
According to the Spanish report, Mr Dryden was found with a number of injuries after his death, including to his legs, arms, head and neck. Some of these were found to be fingernail marks to his face, suggesting he had attempted to fight off an attacker.
Mr Dryden’s injuries included abrasions to both knees, and abrasions and bruising to his right arm.
He had a contusion to the left side of his face, an abrasion to the right cheekbone, nail wounds to his lips and neck, and further abrasions to his chin and lips.
There was also a four-centimetre wound with irregular edges to his head, and bruising to his ear, eye and skull on his left side.
During their internal examination, pathologists also found internal bleeding to the right side of his head and ‘intense encephalic congestion’ – an injury resulting in the brain’s blood vessels becoming swollen and congested.
Police initially told the family that Mr Dryden had been attacked, possibly with an axe, before authorities backtracked and said he had died of a pulmonary embolism.
Now the autopsy report reveals police had admitted to pathologists after their autopsy that Mr Dryden had been the victim of a home invasion.
The report stated: ‘During the examination signs of a struggle were observed on the body such as droplets of blood in various locations on the body.
Ms Adams travelled to Spain alongside family and friends last week to commemorate Mr Dryden’s death on what would have been his 36th birthday
According to the Spanish report, Mr Dryden was found with a number of injuries after his death, including to his legs, arms, head and neck
‘The judicial police subsequently said he had suffered a robbery in his own home.’
But his family say police have refused to acknowledge the robbery when speaking with them.
Speaking to MailOnline, mother Ms Adams revealed she had spoken to her son on the morning of his death and had seen them on a trip to Disneyland Paris just two days before – a birthday gift for his young daughter.
She described him on their final FaceTime call as ‘dead happy’. She continued: ‘He looked well and happy and we were talking about our upcoming visit [to Spain]. He was his normal self.’
She added she was worried someone in Brett’s close circle of friends in Spain could have information about his death, saying his dog was also home at the time of the attack and was unharmed.
Ms Adams said: ‘All I know is somebody hurt my boy and if it’s the last thing I do in my life I will get justice.
‘It’s terrible to not have any answers all this time later. I try not to imagine what happened because I would just crumble.
‘I just want to know what’s happened to my boy and then maybe I can move on with my life.’
Speaking to MailOnline, mother Ms Adams revealed she had spoken to her son on the morning of his death and had seen them on a trip to Disneyland Paris just two days before
Mr Dryden had lived in Mojacar for five years and was found dead by friends on July 22 last year
Mr Dryden had lived in Mojacar for five years and set up a legal cannabis club called The Dawg House.
He was found dead by friends on July 22 last year when he didn’t return from a siesta and officers initially told them ‘there’s been a violent murder’ and that he had been hit with an axe.
His cash savings, designer Gucci glasses and phone were later discovered to be missing.
CCTV footage also shows three men running away from Brett’s home on the night he died, his neighbours told his stepfather Robert.
Sandra is now planning on returning to Mojacar on the anniversary of his death in July to hold a protest saying that she ‘won’t rest until I get justice’.
A court spokesman previously said of the case: ‘The investigation hasn’t been suspended or closed. It is still open and this incident remains under investigation.
‘The court is waiting for the Civil Guard to complete their full report and present their conclusions. For the time being there’s nothing more we can say.’
