Missing Kyle Vaughan: 'Information is key' say police

Kyle Vaughan has not been seen since 30 December 2012

Finding a missing man, police believe has been murdered, still relies on people with key information coming forward, says a senior detective.

Kyle Vaughan, 24, from Blackwood, disappeared on 30 December and his damaged car was later found abandoned.

Eight people are on police bail in connection with his disappearance.

Appealing for help, Gwent Police Det Ch Supt Pete Jones said: "Share that information with us - it might just be the one piece of the jigsaw we need."

Police say they "remain incredibly confident" about finding Mr Vaughan's body.

The search for him continued on Thursday, nearly a year after he went missing.

Det Ch Supt Jones estimated police teams have searched more than five square miles of rivers, roads and forestry since the murder inquiry was launched.

He said: "The focus has always been on finding Kyle.

"As a consequence of that, we want to discover what happened to him and that will be part of the investigation but the focus has always been, and remains, finding Kyle."

Mr Vaughan, known to his friends as Jabbers, was last seen in the Abercarn and Risca areas.

His silver Peugeot 306 was in a collision on the night he disappeared but it is not known if he was driving it.

His damaged car was later found on the A467 between Risca and Cross Keys.

Det Ch Supt Jones said: "I'm satisfied that Kyle would have walked way from that vehicle but the question for us then is, where did he go next?

"And that's been a real focus for us over the last 11 months of the investigation."

Suggesting that people with knowledge about what may have happened to Mr Vaughan have yet to speak to police, he added: "Information in relation to Kyle's whereabouts is out there.

"And I would appeal to anybody who has got information relating to Kyle and who maybe hasn't picked up the telephone as yet and hasn't had the confidence to do that, please pick up the phone.

Reward

"Ring Gwent Police. Ring Crimestoppers. Speak to us in confidence."

A £5,000 reward has been offered for information about Mr Vaughan's disappearance.

Anyone with information leading to the arrest and conviction over his death could claim the reward from crime-fighting charity Crimestoppers.

In order to qualify for the reward, information must be rung in to Crimestoppers on 0800 555111. The caller can remain anonymous and can also claim the reward anonymously.