The Police and Crime Commissioner for Thames Valley Police says he has ordered a review of the investigation into missing Leah Croucher, so that he can determine whether a further inquiry is required.
The update from Matthew Barber, Police and Crime Commissioner, comes as the investigation into missing Leah Croucher was changed from a missing persons inquiry to a murder investigation after 3 years and 8 months, following a call leading officers to substantial evidence earlier this week.
On Wednesday (12/10), Thames Valley Police announced a murder investigation had been launched in connection with the Leah Croucher investigation, after a number of items linked to the investigation were found.
The call on Monday, which led to items belonging to Leah Croucher being found, came after somebody doing work at the address for the property owner, specialist officers and forensic teams have since been attending the location. During the ongoing investigation at the scene, human remains were identified.
The Detective Chief Superintendent confirmed that the owner had rarely been in the UK during the length of the investigation due to COVID so often commissioned for work to be done at the address and the person doing work had been commissioned separately - there is no link between this person and the address.
Investigations into what took place at the address may 'take some time'.
Yesterday, in a statement to the local and national media, police confirmed that they have nominated a suspect in connection with the investigation into the disappearance of Leah Croucher in Milton Keynes.
The suspect has been named as convicted sex offender Neil Maxwell, police have released details of the suspect who took his life on 20th April 2019.
Now, the Police and Crime Commissioner for Thames Valley Police, Matthew Barber has released a statement saying that despite having no information to lead him to conclude that there were shortcomings in the missing persons investigation, he has requested a review of the case.
Following a review, the Police and Crime Commissioner will determine if any further inquiry is required.
PCC Matthew Barber said: "The news that the investigation has moved from a missing persons enquiry to a murder investigation following the discovery of human remains will be the most bitter blow to Leah’s family and will be felt across the city.
"Given the time that has passed questions have inevitably been raised about the earlier investigation and there is an understandable desire for more information. I have been briefed on developments throughout the week and have naturally discussed the case at length with the Chief Constable.
"None of the information I have received so far leads me to conclude that there were shortcomings in the earlier missing persons investigation. Nevertheless I have requested that the Chief Constable presents me with a review of the case in order to determine if any further inquiry is required When the investigation changed from a missing person’s inquiry to a murder inquiry, the head of the Major Crime Unit was appointed as the senior investigating officer with Head of Crime, Detective Chief Superintendent Ian Hunter, having strategic oversight.
"If mistakes have been made I will ensure a thorough review of the missing persons investigation, but I must stress that this will be evidence-led and so far I have seen nothing to suggest any reasonable lines of enquiry were missed.
"Of course the priority remains the murder investigation and whilst the family are being kept fully informed I will not comment further on the details of the case.
"Over the last three years officers from across the Force have been involved in search for Leah. The police and communities across Thames Valley have all been saddened by this week’s discovery. Leah’s family have spoken on their thanks to the police and my thoughts are with Leah’s family as they come to terms with this heartbreaking news."
Who is Neil Maxwell?
Maxwell was found dead on 20 April 2019 having taken his own life.
Police have confirmed the owner of the property was not in the UK and Maxwell was the only person with keys to the address, Maxwell was given keys from November 2018 to carry out maintenance.
There was no direct link between Maxwell and Leah until this week.
Maxwell had previous convictions for sexual offences against females and was wanted in connection with a sexual assault in Newport Pagnell in November 2018.
The sexual assault was reported to Bedfordshire Police on 29 November 2018 and the case was transferred to Thames Valley Police the same day.
Police say they first attempted to arrest Maxwell in connection with the sexual assault the following day, 30 November 2018, at an address in central Milton Keynes, but Maxwell was not present.
During this time, Thames Valley Police established that Maxwell was at an unknown location in Scotland at one stage, but further arrest attempts were continually made throughout the UK at various different addresses.
Police say Maxwell knew he was wanted in connection with the sexual assault and was travelling across the UK and making concerted efforts to evade arrest, including using false names and changing his mobile phone and vehicles.
"If Maxwell were alive today, we would be seeking his arrest in connection with this investigation, so he could be interviewed under caution to provide his account.
"As such, today I am appealing to anyone who had contact with Maxwell between November 2018 and his death in April 2019 or anyone who has information that might help our inquiry to contact Thames Valley Police.
"If you have any information please contact us by visiting Thames Valley Police website or calling 101, quoting ‘Op Innsbruck’.
"If you do not wish to speak directly with police, you can also call the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111."
Statement read by Detective Chief Superintendent Ian Hunter from Leah Croucher's parents:
"We would like to take this opportunity to thank Thames Valley Police for all their efforts over the past three years and eight months.
"We believe that they could not have done anything differently, they have always approached every conversation with dignity and compassion.
"As a family, we ask that everyone respects our privacy as well as our immediate family, at what is one of the most difficult times of our lives."
