A large-scale search for a missing Suffolk woman is continuing today as police question a man in connection with the murder of her husband.
Sylvia Stuart, 69, was last seen nine days ago at her home in Weybread, near Harleston, and a body, believed to be her husband Peter’s, was found on Friday night.
Yesterday, at around 8.30am, a 61-year-old man from Leicester was arrested in the East Midland’s city in connection with the murder of Mr Stuart.
Police yesterday continued to carry out extensive searches around the couple’s home in Mill Lane to try and find Mrs Stuart and clues to her 75-year-old husband’s death, and detectives said last night searches would continue today.
Detective Chief Superintendent Simon Parkes, who is leading the investigation, said: “While we have made an arrest, our investigation continues.
“We are absolutely committed to finding Sylvia and this remains a priority for us. We would ask anyone who may have information that may help to come forward.
“Our real concern now is for the safety of Sylvia and that is where we are putting our energies into, to locate her.
“As you can see behind me there is a huge amount of work going on in terms of seeing if Sylvia is maybe in the woods, but we have got a whole raft of enquiries to try to locate her.
“We are still hopeful we can find her, but we are exploring all the possibilities available to us.
“What we are looking to do is really try to piece together the movements of Peter and Sylvia from that Saturday, May 28 – in fact right up to the current time because we still obviously have not given up hope of finding Sylvia alive.”
Mr and Mrs Stuart, who were keen line-dancers, were last seen at a family gathering on Saturday, May 28 at their home and were reported as missing on Friday, with their car still at their property.
A body, believed to be Mr Stuart’s, was found in woodland by the couple’s home at 7.10pm on Friday.
Over the course of the weekend search teams in white overalls could be seen combing the woodland across the road from Mr and Mrs Stuart’s home at Brick Kiln Cottage where forensic teams carried out investigations as well.
When asked why police had launched a murder investigation, Det Ch Supt Parkes said: “There is a whole sequence of events which appear to be completely out of character, then the finding of the body and some of the evidence there leads us to draw that conclusion.”
Det Ch Supt Parkes would not comment on the state of the interior of the couple’s home.
He added: “We are using Norfolk colleagues to assist us and indeed if we need resources from further afield then we will call on those as soon as they are required.”
Police from Essex and Cambridgeshire, as well as crews from Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service, helped the more than 20 specialist search officers taking part in the investigation.
Det Ch Supt Parkes also said he understood neighbours’ anxiety and concerns and that Suffolk police had put on extra patrols.
A post-mortem examination was carried out on Mr Stuart’s body yesterday afternoon.
A police spokesman said the arrested man was brought to Suffolk to be interviewed by detectives.
Mr and Mrs Stuart were retired and had lived in Grays, Essex, before moving to Suffolk. They have one daughter, Christy.
Anyone with information that may be able to assist the investigation is asked to call Suffolk Police on either 01473 782000 or 101, quoting CAD number 49 of Friday June 3.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here