Help offered for no-body murder probe breakthrough

Maris Ile was living in the Highgate area of King's Lynn and was last seen on 20 November 2024

Police officers investigating a no-body murder said they could help anyone who feared they would be subject to "repercussions" for providing information.

Maris Ile, 54, was a seasonal worker from Latvia who had been living in the Highgate area of King's Lynn, Norfolk, when he disappeared last year.

Norfolk Police said it believed Mr Ile had come to harm and launched a murder investigation in March, despite not having found a body.

Det Supt Phill Gray has appealed to people to come forward with information about Mr Ile's disappearance, adding: "Come and talk to us, we can help you."

"It is a live and active investigation" and the police want to get closure for Mr Ile's family, Det Supt Gray said

On 20 November 2024, Mr Ile left his home but did not arrive at his workplace in Ely, Cambridgeshire, and was reported missing three days later.

Speaking one year on, Det Supt Gray said after looking at CCTV, phone and bank records the force launched a murder investigation.

The Norfolk and Suffolk Major Investigation Team want to locate Mr Ile's body, so it can be returned to his family in Latvia, he added.

"You may be concerned about repercussions, it may be information that you want to give us about people that you know or friends of yours.

"Come and talk to us, we can help you," he said.

He added that however "insignificant" the information may seem, "it may just be that one piece of information that helps us move this investigation along," Det Supt Gray said.

Maris Ile's mother, Galina, described her son as "caring" and said he loved motorbikes

Mr Ile's mother, Galina, described her son as "caring" and said he loved motorbikes when she appealed for information over his disappearance in July.

Four men and a woman were arrested at addresses in King's Lynn, Norwich and Peterborough, on suspicion of murder in connection with Mr Ile's disappearance.

They were released and all five remain on police bail until 11 December.

An allotment was also searched the same month as part of the investigation, but Norfolk Police did not reveal its location.

In August Crimestoppers offered a reward of up to £20,000 for information that leads to an arrest or conviction in the case.