Detectives investigating the disappearance of a 28-year-old man have found a body three years after he vanished – and have vowed to seek answers for his grieving family.
Authorities are trying to piece together the very last moments of Chris May, from Kelvedon, after senior officers announced a body had been found in their search for him.
Last weekend a member of the public reported finding a body in woodland in Faulkbourne – just a few miles from where Mr May’s car was found abandoned in Troy’s Chase, Fairstead, three years ago.
He was last seen at his father’s home address in Coggeshall on May 25, 2015.
Detective Chief Inspector Stephen Jennings, who is leading the investigation into Mr May’s disappearance, said: “I strongly believe the body which has been found is Chris May, 28, from Kelvedon.
“Enquiries are now being conducted to establish how he died.
“Chris’s family are continuing to receive support from a specialist family liaison officer who has worked with them since Chris went missing in May 2015.
“His body was found less than a fortnight before the third anniversary of his disappearance.”
A post-mortem carried out on the body, which was forensically recovered, was inconclusive.
“The priority for me now is to seek answers for his family and for the coroner to piece together his very last moments,” DCI Jennings added.
“This is an extremely difficult time for Chris’ family who have asked to be given the space to grieve for him and come to terms with his body being found without intrusion.”
On the first anniversary of Chris’ disappearance, police confirmed they were no longer treating his case as a missing person inquiry.
Chiefs launched a murder investigation after announcing they no longer expected to find him alive.
Further questions were raised after hoax letters were sent to police suggesting the authors had information about Mr May’s whereabouts.
Detectives had previously revealed that the 28-year-old was a known drug dealer.
Anyone with information about Mr May’s last movements in May 2015 is asked to call the North Major Investigation Team on 101.
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