Appeal for information after police identify skeleton found in St Osyth
Police in Essex have identified the man found in the scrapyard in 2019
Police investigating the discovery of skeletal remains in a scrapyard in St Osyth have identified the man they belong to.
The remains were found by a site worker near to Cockett Wick Lane on the 25th April 2019.
In the three years since officers have been working to find out who they belong to.
It's been confirmed to be the body of Bill Long, who was from the Tendring area and would now be in his 70s.
Police are now focussing on how Bill came to be where his remains were found, the circumstances that led to his death, and how he died.
It is being treated as a murder investigation but the force says it's keeping an open mind.
Police believe he was last seen, or believed to be alive, between March 1999 and March 2000 and had a girlfriend who moved to Australia at about that time.
As well as images of Bill, pictures of cowboy boots also found at the scene have been released.
Detective Inspector Kevin Hughes, from the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate, said: “The process to identify Bill has been measured and methodical.“Bill’s family have been told and they now have the chance to lay him to rest.
“They have questions about what happened to him and our focus now is to get them answers.
“We’re keeping an open mind as to what happened to Bill and how he came to be where he was found.
“I need anyone who knew Bill, saw him, spoke to him or has any information about him or his life at the time he was last seen to come forward and speak to my team.”
Bill’s sister Patricia said: “After our father died in 1996, we lost contact with Bill and we’re desperate for information about what happened to him.
“He was vulnerable and an easy target for scammers and we feel so guilty that we didn’t go back to Jaywick to make sure he was ok.
“The next thing we knew was when detectives came and told us Bill's remains had been found.
“It’s so difficult to deal with grief and guilt when we don't know what happened.
“If you are afraid and want to remain anonymous this can be arranged. Please help us with anything you know.”
Do you have information?
Police have set up a portal where people can report any information relevant to the case.
You can also submit information on Essex Police's website or call 101 quoting crime reference number 42/64620/19.
People can also report information anonymously to Crimestoppers.