Sudbury body remains in river likely a victim of organised crime

Further remains were found during a police search of the river after the discovery of the bags by a member of the public

An unknown man whose remains were found in bags in a river three years ago was "very likely" the victim of organised crime, police have said.

Remains were found in the River Stour in Sudbury, Suffolk, on 27 August 2020, sparking a murder inquiry.

Police established the victim was a man aged in his late 50s to early 60s but are yet to identify him.

Releasing new information, Det Supt Mike Brown said part of the skull was found and had 27 deep lacerations.

'Hands were missing'

"We have been exploring every avenue to help us to identify our victim, which is the key to unlocking this case," he added.

"At this juncture - more than three years on from the discovery and still not knowing who the victim is - we are now disclosing this more detailed information about the remains, and the items they were found with.

"Our leading hypothesis is that this individual is very likely to have been the victim of organised crime.

"The way the body was dismembered - and the fact that the hands are missing - bear the hallmarks of being done very deliberately and by people who knew what they were doing."

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One of the black bin bags contained a white Thing-Me-Bobs carrier bag, containing bricks

Two black bin bags were spotted in the River Stour, near Meadow Gate and Croft Bridge, by a member of the public with a further bag found in a police search.

'Stored for years'

Officers uncovered part of the skull and jaw; the right and left arm bones and partial wrist bones and the complete lower right and left legs, including the feet.

The arms, legs and feet were partially mummified and there was a healed fracture to one of the wrist bones.

The bones had been cleanly dismembered at the joints, with the lacerations on the skull, not believed to be the cause of death, police said.

Both arms and the feet were bent inwards and upwards, which was possibly as a result of how they were stored.

Decorative stones were found within a Boots carrier bag, within a second bin bag

Commercial air freshener blocks - which became obsolete in 2011 - were dumped with the human remains

"It would appear the remains had been stored in dry, airless, conditions for a number of years before someone decided they needed to be disposed of," added Det Supt Brown.

"It could be that the people responsible for his death took the decision to move the remains, or that someone discovered them and not wanting to engage with the police, decided to simply dispose of them."

'Weighed down with bricks'

A number of air fresheners, for use in commercial toilets, were also found in the bags and gave off a "strong, chemical smell".

These were found to have been a business-to-business janitorial product made by Jeyes, at a factory in Mold, North Wales, and became obsolete around 2011.

The bricks and decorative stones were in common use and had not provided a breakthrough, police said

The bags were weighted down with bricks, which have been identified as 'Eastwoods Fletton' bricks, along with decorative stones, which were contained in carrier bags.

These included a white 'Thing-Me-Bobs' bag - the style of which was produced between 2013 and 2015- a Boots bag from around 2012 and generic blue carrier bags, typically used by market traders.

As previously reported, forensic tests revealed the man was white, of north European descent, about 5ft 6in (1.67m) to 5ft 9in (1.75m), medium build with blond hair, when born, and likely to have been of an athletic or muscular build.

Radiocarbon dating placed his date of death between 2008 and 2012.

Police said the victim's identity was still a mystery despite extensive work

Missing person records across local, regional and national databases have been reviewed and further opportunities to explore the comparison of DNA across numerous national and international databases is continuing.

"Until we know who this individual is we can't really bring justice to them or their family," said Det Supt Brown.

"It will also allow us to understand their lifestyle and allow us to look at other lines of inquiry to establish what may have happened to them, who may have been responsible for it and to ultimately bring those people to justice.

"If you knew a man aged in his late 50s or early 60s at that time, who suddenly disappeared without a trace, then please contact us."

A 26-year-old man from Sudbury was arrested in 2021 in connection with the inquiry and released with no further action.

The case featured on BBC Crimewatch Live on Friday, and is available on the iPlayer.