CCTV released in hunt for Somerset murder suspect
Richard Scatchard from Minehead vanished after a woman was found dead at his home
Last updated 16th Nov 2023
Police on the hunt for a Somerset man wanted in connection with a murder investigation, have released CCTV footage of his last known movements.
Richard Scatchard (70) from Minehead is a convicted sex offender and disappeared a month ago after a woman was found dead at his home.
Scatchard called an ambulance to his home in the early hours of Sunday 14 October saying 61-year-old Kelly Faires was critically ill.
She was declared dead by medics a short while later.
Avon and Somerset Police attended that night as is standard procedure when a sudden death occurs, but when they returned the next day to ask Scatchard further questions, he was gone.
Scatchard is wanted on recall to prison and is considered a risk to women, having previously been convicted of giving people drugs in order to sexually assault them.
He was initially considered missing by police, before "new information" led officers to issue a wanted appeal.
"We believe Scatchard spent the night after Kelly’s death – the 15-16 October – in the Watchet area, which he used to regularly visit," an update from detectives reads.
"CCTV captured at about 9am on Monday 16 October shows Scatchard in the Swain Street area of Watchet.
"This is the last sighting on CCTV we have of Scatchard."
Officers say someone who knew Scatchard then saw him that same morning on Blenheim Road in Minehead, wearing light-coloured shorts.
Previous appeals for information have led to more than 80 reported sightings, but none of them so far, have been confirmed.
"The vast majority of the reported sightings have come in the West Somerset area, but we remain mindful he may have travelled to another part of the country," a police spokesperson said.
Senior Investigating Officer Detective Superintendent Gary Haskins said: “The forensic post-mortem examination carried out shortly after Kelly’s death proved inconclusive.
“The circumstances behind Kelly’s death are still unclear despite further test results, but it continues to be treated as suspicious.
"We still wish to speak to Scatchard to see if he can help us progress our enquiries.
“We desperately want to provide Kelly’s family with the answers they deserve as soon as we can.”
Det Supt Haskins continued: “The other equally important focus we have, which we particularly want the public’s help with, is the search for Scatchard.
“We are hugely appreciative of everyone who has sought to help our enquiries, from people calling in with information to locals putting in their business windows the wanted posters the Minehead neighbourhood team has distributed.
“We have also had constructive conversations with the National Crime Agency who are providing us support with these searches, for which we are grateful."
Det Supt Haskins says the best chance of finding him will come if a member of the public is able to share information on where he is.
"This may be through a chance sighting or even someone who has previously been reluctant to come forward – either way we’d please encourage those people to call 999," he said.
“And if Scatchard sees this appeal, we’d urge him to do the right thing and to hand himself in.”
Scatchard is described as a white man, about 5ft 11ins and has a Scottish accent.
He’s known to have used the name Richard Dunlop previously.
If you see him do not approach him, just call 999.
If you know where he may be, please call 101 and give the call handler the reference 5223259285.
Alternatively, Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously online and on 0800 555111.