Thames Valley Police today addressed national and local media in a police conference in connection to the investigation into missing Leah Croucher.
Thames Valley Police today (14/10) addressed the media, including MKFM, in connection with the investigation into the disappearance of Leah Croucher in Milton Keynes.
Head of Crime, Detective Chief Superintendent Ian Hunter confirmed that human remains were located in the loft of a property on Loxbeare Drive in Furzton, Milton Keynes, during an investigation of the home.
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 significant update in the inquiry came following a call from a member of the public on Monday, specialist officers and forensic teams have since been attending the location.
During the ongoing investigation at the scene, human remains were identified.
The call on Monday, which has led to the first piece of significant evidence within the case in 3 years and 8 months, came after somebody doing work at the address for the property owner.
"The person that informed us on Monday had been commissioned separately from the owner overseas to carry out some work at that address," Detective Chief Superintendent Ian Hunter said.
The Detective Chief Superintendent confirmed that the owner had rarely been in the UK during that period of time due to COVID so often commissioned for work to be done at the address.
Police say there is nothing linking the person who made the location on Monday to the investigation.
Investigations into what took place at the address may 'take some time'.
Officers say that they are "dealing with a difficult and challenging scene" and are conducting investigations "thoroughly and with dignity".
A Home Office post-mortem examination is expected to take place today (14/10), although this may take some time, as will the formal identification of the deceased person located inside the property.
During the live conference with national and local media, Thames Valley 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.
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.
Police say they are still going to "keep an open mind" and that a "detailed investigation will seek to gather sufficient evidence to establish the truth".
Police have confirmed that there has been no direct link between Maxwell and Leah until Monday this week when they were called about the property in Loxbeare Drive.
"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."
READ MORE: The suspect has been named as convicted sex offender Neil Maxwell
