Witness appeal launched after human remains discovered in Sudbury river

The image has been released ahead of the two-year anniversary of the discovery of human bones in the River Stour in August 2020.

These two people are being treated as potential witnesses who may be able to provide information to assist the inquiry and are not suspects.

Divers in the River Stour as the probe into the human bones discovery in Sudbury continues. Pictures: ELLA WILKINSON (Image: Archant)

The pair were seen walking two dogs and pulling a shopper trolley bag along Melford Road in the town on Wednesday, August 19 2020.

A murder probe was launched after two black bin bags containing the remains were found near Meadow Gate and Croft Bridge at about 4.35pm on Thursday, August 27 2020.

A Home Office post-mortem examination conducted on the remains three days after the discovery was not able to establish a cause of death or any form of identification.

A small amount of additional human remains were recovered as a result of searches of the river in the week after the bags were found, with DNA testing of these remains confirming that they are from the same person as the original discovery.

Police revealed last year the victim may have died between 2008 and 2012.

A Suffolk police spokesman said: "Expert forensic tests have been continuing over the past two years to help build a profile of the victim. It had previously been disclosed that the victim was an adult male, who was likely to have been of an athletic or muscular build.

"Further tests last year revealed that the victim is believed to have died between 2008 and 2012 and he was likely to have been aged in his late 50s to early 60s.

"The approximate age of the victim and timeframe for his death are based around the results of radiocarbon dating, which has been undertaken as part of the ongoing specialist forensic work in the case."

A police cordon was set up near St Gregory's Church in Sudbury after suspected human bones were discovered in the River Stour Picture: SONYA DUNCAN (Image: Archant 2020)

The latest test results have now indicated the victim was a white male, approximately 5ft 9ins tall, of medium build and north European.

On May 25 last year, officers arrested a 26-year-old man from Sudbury in connection with the inquiry.

He had remained under investigation until recently but will face no further action at this time.

In addition to the more than 1,800 exhibits that have been collated, 1,500 people that have been spoken to and more than 1,400 statements or reports that have been taken, officers remain actively engaged with enquiries, undertaking further house-to-house work as recently as the end of July.

Detective superintendent Mike Brown, the senior investigating officer, said: “We remain fully committed to solving this complex case and obtaining justice for the victim and any family he may have had.

“We are focused on three main strands as part of this investigation: the identity of the victim; any persons involved in his death; and anyone involved in the deposition of the remains.

“As we have said from the beginning, this is a very long process and when we get initial results back they very often then need to be subjected to further tests.

"However, we continue to learn more about the victim as we go along.

“In respect of the identifying the victim, if anyone has concerns over a male relative, friend or colleague they haven’t seen or heard from, since between 2008 and 2012 and who was aged in their late 50s or early 60s at the time, then please contact us – your call could provide us with a vital breakthrough.”