Neil Maxwell has been named at a police press conference as a suspect in the investigation into the murder of Leah Croucher
A dead man has been named as the prime suspect in the murder of teenager Leah Croucher.
Neil Maxwell died from suicide in April 2019 – two months after Leah, 19, vanished, police say.
Earlier this week, detectives searching for Leah found human remains at a home in Loxbeare Drive, Furzton, Milton Keynes.
They began searching the house after a tip off from a member of the public on Monday.
A murder inquiry was opened after Leah’s rucksack and other belongings were found.
A post-mortem examination was expected to be done on Friday, Thames Valley Police said.
They said: “Whilst Maxwell has been nominated as a suspect, this does not mean he is guilty of any offence. We will keep an open mind, and our detailed investigation will seek to gather sufficient evidence to establish the truth.
“This may or may not implicate or exonerate Maxwell or any other persons from the investigation.”
Officers are appealing to anyone who had contact with Maxwell between November 2018 and his death in April 2019 or anyone who has information that might help our inquiry to contact them.
Ms Croucher went missing on 15 February 2019 as she walked to work at a finance company.
She was last seen on CCTV just after 8.15am just a short distance from the house, now the focus of a murder inquiry.
Hundreds of officers have searched for Ms Croucher over the past three and a half years.
They have trawled 1,200 hours of CCTV and carried out 4,000 house-to-house inquiries.
Ms Croucher’s family was struck by further tragedy when her brother, Haydon, died age 24 in November 2019, nine months after she went missing.
Her parents have visited the scene and left flowers along with a handwritten note saying “our darkest fears have come true”.
Detective Chief Superintendent Ian Hunter said previously: "Leah's family and friends remain uppermost in our thoughts at this extremely difficult time."
