A murder investigation has been launched a month after human remains were found in a field in Sutton-in-Ashfield - however police are yet to work out the identity of the victim. Construction work was being carried out on farmland off Coxmoor Road when a member of the public came across some bones on April 26.
Police have been working alongside a team of scientists in a bid to determine who the person was and how they died, with a large cordon remaining in place for more than three weeks. In an update on Wednesday (May 24), four weeks on from the discovery, police have launched a murder investigation.
The force said this was due to the injuries that were sustained, including trauma to parts of the male skeleton. Assistant Chief Constable Rob Griffin said they also believe the victim was buried at the site so no-one could find him.
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"It is also possible that the burial site is also not the place where his murder occurred," he said. "However, we keep an open mind. We also know this is not a murder that has happened recently.
“We know this because it takes a number of years for the body to decompose to bone." Police said a post mortem examination had revealed the remains are that of a male skeleton, with an estimated age of death between 40 to 60 years old and a height of between around 5ft 4ins to 5ft 7ins.
It was originally believed the body could be that of Robin Barrows Spencer, a 47-year-old local man who went missing in 2004. A murder inquiry was launched in 2006 surrounding his disappearance, with a number of arrests made, but no-one has ever been prosecuted.
However, DNA tests concluded it is not his body. Police said more work now needs to be carried out on the remains, including radiocarbon dating testing which could take several months.
Forensic tents had been set up with a JCB digger used on site as part of the investigation. In a statement released on Wednesday, Mr Griffin said it was "obviously distressing" for the local community. “It is important to remember this is not just a collection of bones in a field," he said.
"This is someone’s loved one whose family will have undoubtedly been waiting many years for answers. It is imperative that we can provide his family with all the answers they need and that the work we do now can ensure those responsible for his death are brought to justice.
“This will obviously be distressing for the local community to hear as at this moment in time we cannot provide identification. What I can say is that we have a team of detectives working extremely hard alongside a team of scientists to gather as much detail as possible to help us identify the person."
Addressing "rumour and speculation", superintendent for the county, Claire Rukas said there was no indication that there were other bodies buried at the site. “This is a single grave with a single deceased person in it," she said.
“We have carried out extensive work over the last three weeks at the site to ensure that no stone was left unturned. We know the woods around Coxmoor Road are a popular walking spot. We know the discovery of human remains will be alarming, but the public have nothing to be afraid of and they are safe to use."
Mr Griffin continued: “Today we appeal for the public to come forward. Any information you may have about who this person might be or anything you may have heard then we would ask you to get in touch.
“This murder may have happened some time ago, but times have changed and so have loyalties. We have set up a dedicated phone line and online portal direct to the incident room for anyone with information to contact us; or you can call Crimestoppers which is completely anonymous.
"We have already eliminated a number of people who are known to be missing." Anyone with information is asked to contact the incident room by clicking the online link https://mipp.police.uk/operation/33EM22E48-PO1
The police cordon was lifted last week and Coxmoor Road reopened. The road had been closed in both directions following the discovery, causing heavy traffic between the A611 Derby Road in Sutton-in-Ashfield and the B6020 Kirkby Road in Ravenshead.
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