Police issue renewed calls for information in Leah Croucher murder investigation
Convicted sex offender Neil Maxwell remains the only nominated suspect
Thames Valley Police has issued a new appeal for information in relation to the Leah Croucher murder investigation.
Convicted sex offender Neil Maxwell remains the only nominated suspect, but police have acknowledged no one has come forward to say they saw Maxwell in Milton Keynes in early December 2018.
More pertinently, the police are yet to identify anyone who saw Maxwell in Loxbeare Drive when Leah went missing on 15 February 2019.
What have the police said?
Head of Crime, Detective Chief Superintendent Ian Hunter said:
"Our investigation continues to diligently gather sufficient evidence to establish the truth.
“Maxwell knew he was wanted in connection with a sexual assault investigation that occurred in Newport Pagnell in November 2018 and appears to have made extensive efforts to evade arrest by using false names, and we believe he stopped using his mobile phone and his vehicles. He is likely to have known that he would be returning to prison if he was arrested and convicted.
“The investigation has now also established that Maxwell is likely to have changed his appearance to avoid being recognised. He had grown a beard and may have lost weight. We have therefore generated a computer image of how Maxwell may have looked around the time Leah went missing in the hope that it may jog someone’s memory. Did you see this person in or around Loxbeare Drive, Furzton at any time between December 2018 and 20 April 2019?
“Or can you help us with obtaining further information about Neil Maxwell. Do you know where he was between December 2018 and 20 April 2019, what phone number he was using, what vehicle he was driving, who he was with or any other useful information that can help us establish the truth for Leah’s family? You can of course also speak to us in confidence.
“If you have any information, no matter how insignificant you think it might be please contact us. You can leave information on our website or call us on 101, quoting ‘Operation Innsbruck’. If you don’t wish to talk directly with police, you can also call the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
“The investigation team are keeping HM Coroner and the Crown Prosecution Service regularly updated.
“Further information on the investigation will be provided at the appropriate time."
What happened to Leah Croucher?
Leah was 19-year-olds when she went missing whilst walking to work in 2019.
After a three-and-a-half year search, human remains were found at a property in Loxbeare Drive, Furzton, Milton Keynes, in October last year.
As well as human remains, which were later confirmed at Leah's, police also found her backpack and other personal items.
Who is Neil Maxwell?
Neil Maxwell, who killed himself in April 2019, is the prime suspect in the murder of Leah Croucher.
According to Thames Valley Police, Maxwell was the only person with keys to the house where Leah's remains were found.
Maxwell had been employed by the home owner, who lives abroad, to carry out some maintenance on the house.
Maxwell had previous convictions for sexual offences against women and was wanted in connection with a sexual assault in Newport Pagnell in November 2018, the force said.