A grim discovery has brought closure to the frantic search for Alexander Key, the 37-year-old longtime partner of Assisi Jackson, granddaughter of Rolling Stones icon Sir Mick Jagger. On Saturday, January 31, 2026, officers and HM Coastguard recovered the body of a man from the sea off Bude, a small coastal town in Cornwall, England. While formal identification awaits, authorities state they believe the deceased is Alexander Key, who had been missing since late January after leaving a local pub in Boscastle.
Key, a chef and co-owner of a seafood restaurant, shared two young daughters with Assisi Jackson, 33, the daughter of Jade Jagger and great-granddaughter to Sir Mick through his eldest daughter. The couple’s relationship spanned years, rooted in their life together on a farm in Cornwall, where they raised their family amid the area’s dramatic cliffs and crashing waves. Friends described Key as devoted, hardworking, and deeply connected to his children and community.
The timeline began on Friday, January 23, when Key was captured on CCTV sitting alone at the Cobweb Inn in Boscastle around 2:30 p.m. He left the pub shortly after, and initial reports suggested that was his last sighting. However, further footage emerged showing him the following day, Saturday, January 24, at approximately 3:25 p.m., walking past The Wellington pub on Old Road toward Boscastle Harbour and the nearby River Valency. This updated information shifted the search focus toward the harbor area and coastal paths.
Concern grew rapidly when Key failed to return home. By Saturday evening, January 24, he was officially reported missing to Devon and Cornwall Police. The force described increasing worry for his welfare, noting his familiarity with the area but highlighting the potential dangers of the rugged coastline, especially in winter with unpredictable tides and slippery terrain.
Assisi Jackson and the wider Jagger family launched public appeals almost immediately. Posts shared on social media and through police channels pleaded for information, emphasizing the family’s desperation. “We are desperate to find him,” one message read, urging anyone who might have seen him or spoken to him to come forward. The appeals included details of his last known movements and requests for sightings of two specific dog walkers spotted in the vicinity, walking in the opposite direction to Key on CCTV.
The search intensified over the following days, involving police officers, coastguard teams, and volunteers scouring the coastline, harbors, and surrounding paths. Boscastle, famous for its picturesque harbor nestled between steep valleys and its history of devastating floods in 2004, became the epicenter of a heartbreaking vigil. Media coverage amplified the story due to the Jagger connection, drawing attention from outlets worldwide and prompting an outpouring of support from fans and the public.
Tragically, that hope ended on January 31 when the body was discovered in the sea at Bude, approximately 15 miles north of Boscastle along the dramatic North Cornwall coast. Officers confirmed the man was deceased at the scene. Police emphasized that the death is not being treated as suspicious, with a file now prepared for the coroner to determine the exact circumstances. The family of Sir Mick Jagger has been informed, and tributes are beginning to emerge from those who knew Key.
This incident underscores the perils of Cornwall’s coastline, where sheer drops, strong currents, and sudden weather changes have claimed lives in the past. Authorities often warn walkers and visitors to stay on marked paths, heed tide times, and avoid risky areas alone, especially after dark or in poor visibility. Key’s disappearance highlights how quickly a routine outing can turn devastating in such environments.
For the Jagger family, already no strangers to public scrutiny and personal loss, this adds another layer of sorrow. Sir Mick, now in his 80s, has maintained a close—if private—relationship with his grandchildren, including Assisi, who has pursued her own path in farming and family life away from the spotlight. The couple’s two daughters now face life without their father, supported by a grieving extended family and community.
As formal identification and the coroner’s inquest proceed, friends and locals remember Key for his warmth, culinary talents, and role as a dedicated parent. The appeals that once sought his safe return now shift to condolences and memories. The story serves as a somber reminder of life’s fragility, even for those connected to global fame, and the enduring impact one person’s absence can have on loved ones.
In the quiet Cornish villages where the drama unfolded, life continues, but with a heavy heart for a family that hoped for a different ending.
