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Leah Croucher: Suspect in teen murder case is deceased Leah Croucher: Suspect in teen murder case is deceased
(32 minutes later)
Leah Croucher, 19, was last seen on CCTV on 15 February 2019 in Milton KeynesLeah Croucher, 19, was last seen on CCTV on 15 February 2019 in Milton Keynes
Police suspect a convicted sex offender, who died three years ago, was involved in the death of Leah Croucher. Police suspect a convicted sex offender, who died three years ago, murdered teenager Leah Croucher.
On Wednesday, police said unidentified remains and a rucksack and personal items belonging to the 19-year-old had been found at a Milton Keynes property.On Wednesday, police said unidentified remains and a rucksack and personal items belonging to the 19-year-old had been found at a Milton Keynes property.
Thames Valley Police have named Neil Maxwell, who took his own life in April 2019, as the murder suspect. Thames Valley Police said Neil Maxwell, who was found dead two months after Miss Croucher went missing, had a history of offences against women.
He was the only person to have keys to the property when Miss Croucher went missing, the force said. It said he was the only person to have keys to the house when she vanished.
Police suspect convicted sex offender Neil Maxwell was involved in Leah's death Police suspect convicted sex offender Neil Maxwell killed teenager Leah Croucher
Det Ch Supt Ian Hunter said: "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."Det Ch Supt Ian Hunter said: "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."
The teenager was last seen on CCTV in the Buckinghamshire city on Friday, 15 February 2019.The teenager was last seen on CCTV in the Buckinghamshire city on Friday, 15 February 2019.
Police began searching the house on Loxbeare Drive in Furzton on Monday evening, following a tip-off phone call from a member of the public.Police began searching the house on Loxbeare Drive in Furzton on Monday evening, following a tip-off phone call from a member of the public.
The force has said forensic examinations at the scene may last "several weeks" and as a result there would continue to be a police presence both at the house and in the area. In the loft they discovered unidentified human remains and items belonging to Miss Croucher.
It would also "take some time" to formally identify the remains, police added. A post-mortem examination is taking place on Friday. A post-mortem examination is taking place on Friday and forensic analysis of the remains and the property could "take some time", police said.
The property is less than half a mile (0.8km) from where Miss Croucher was last seen in Buzzacott Lane, Furzton, walking in the direction of Loxbeare Drive and Chaffron Way. The property is less than half-a-mile (0.8km) from where Miss Croucher was last seen in Buzzacott Lane, Furzton, walking in the direction of Loxbeare Drive and Chaffron Way.
Det Ch Supt Ian Hunter named Neil Maxwell as the suspect at a press conference
At a press conference on Friday, Det Ch Supt Hunter said: "Sadly, the call from the member of the public that we received on Monday was the first occasion that information was made available to enable the investigation team to provide any link between that address in Loxbeare Drive and Leah."At a press conference on Friday, Det Ch Supt Hunter said: "Sadly, the call from the member of the public that we received on Monday was the first occasion that information was made available to enable the investigation team to provide any link between that address in Loxbeare Drive and Leah."
He confirmed that number two Loxbeare Drive, where the remains were discovered, was visited on at least two occasions during door-to-door inquiries in the search for the teenager, but there was no response.He confirmed that number two Loxbeare Drive, where the remains were discovered, was visited on at least two occasions during door-to-door inquiries in the search for the teenager, but there was no response.
"Therefore, we dropped a leaflet through the letterbox, requesting a call back if the occupants of the property had any information," he said."Therefore, we dropped a leaflet through the letterbox, requesting a call back if the occupants of the property had any information," he said.
Forensics officers continue to work at the house where human remains were found
Since Monday, the force said it discovered the house was owned by someone who lived overseas who rarely visited the UK and was not in the UK at the time Miss Croucher went missing. It said the house was unoccupied when officers attended.Since Monday, the force said it discovered the house was owned by someone who lived overseas who rarely visited the UK and was not in the UK at the time Miss Croucher went missing. It said the house was unoccupied when officers attended.
The force said it also learned this week that during the time of the disappearance, Neil Maxwell was the only person to have keys to the property.The force said it also learned this week that during the time of the disappearance, Neil Maxwell was the only person to have keys to the property.
He had been employed by the home owner to carry out maintenance at the house. He had been employed by the home owner to carry out maintenance at the house. He was found dead on 20 April 2019, having taken his own life.
A black screen has been placed outside the front of the house being searched in Milton Keynes
Mr Hunter said the person who contacted the force on Monday was doing some other work at the address and "informed us of some concerns that led to the call to police and further investigations".
He said the suspect - who had previous convictions for sexual offences against women - had keys to the home since November 2018 and was wanted in connection with a sexual assault in Newport Pagnell in the same month.
Officers first attempted to arrest him in connection with the offence on 30 November 2018, at an address in central Milton Keynes, but he was not there, he said.
The force shared his name with other police forces on the Police National Computer in December 2018 and further arrest attempts were made throughout the UK at various different addresses.
"A significant amount of enquiries were made nationally to locate Maxwell and these included 18 attempts to arrest him," Mr Hunter said.
Leah Croucher: A timeline
CCTV footage showed the last confirmed sighting of Leah Croucher walking to work on the day she disappeared
14 February 2019: Leah Croucher is last seen by her parents at the family home in Quantock Crescent, Milton Keynes at 22:00 GMT
15 February 2019: CCTV footage showed her walking down Buzzacott Lane in Furzton at 08:16. She was thought to be going to her job at a finance company, but she never arrived
April 2019: Thames Valley Police said three people had reported possible sightings of Leah near Furzton Lake between 09:30 and 11:15, on the day she went missing
October 2019: A two-week search by Thames Valley Police of a lake and surrounding area at the Blue Lagoon nature reserve in Bletchley finds nothing
February 2021: On the second anniversary of her disappearance, police said there had been "no significant leads" and the case was "bewildering and frustrating"
October 2022: Police open a murder investigation after unidentified human remains and a rucksack and personal possessions belonging to Leah are found at a property on Loxbeare Drive in Furzton
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