At what point does a missing person investigation become a murder investigation?

by Guest 20.05.14 17:36

Are all missing persons treated as potential murder victims from the moment they disappear?

If not, at what point is the focus of the investigation changed?

- Is it when there is evidence of foul play?

- Or is it when there is a body or evidence of a dead body - such as from sniffer dogs?

by Tangled Web 20.05.14 22:42

Poe wrote:Are all missing persons treated as potential murder victims from the moment they disappear?

If not, at what point is the focus of the investigation changed?

- Is it when there is evidence of foul play?

- Or is it when there is a body or evidence of a dead body - such as from sniffer dogs?

That's a very good question. People missing for many years are sometimes referred to as 'missing, presumed dead' but I haven't heard a missing person referred to as 'missing, presumed murdered' as surely there would have to be some evidence to suggest this?

by russiandoll 20.05.14 22:53

from ACPO manual : policy and procedures in the investigations into missing persons.

Homicide One of the fundamental facts to be determined in a missing person investigation is the reason why the subject has disappeared. In cases where the circumstances are suspicious or are unexplained, use the maxim:

IF IN DOUBT THINK MURDER

Failure to apply such thinking in past cases has led to the loss of valuable investigative opportunities and could ultimately result in failure to trace the missing person or to establish sufficient evidence to convict a perpetrator.
The status of the relationship between the missing person and the person making the initial report can also be important. Experience suggests that it would be wrong for investigators to always assume such relationships are stable. There have been numerous cases where the person reporting the crime and/or the missing person has been found to be the perpetrator of the crime.

by Guest 21.05.14 9:22

Thank you russiandoll roses

It was Claudia Lawrence that got me thinking about this because although the police may have suspected murder from day one, they only announced it when they arrested a suspect. As recently as two months ago Peter Lawrence was still campaigning and hoping that Claudia would be found alive so the police must have discovered something unequivocal to publicly change the case from missing person to murder.

by **PeterMac** 16.08.14 13:12

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A dead man is among more than 30 suspected illegal immigrants found in a container at Tilbury Docks.
Thirty-four people - including at least seven children - are being treated at three hospitals, some with "significant health problems".
Port officials were alerted to the stowaways after hearing "banging and screaming" from the container.
At a press conference at Tilbury Docks, Essex Superintendent Trevor Roe said the man's death was being treated as "homicide".

Interesting that this is where they are starting.
Not simple Illegal Immigration / asylum seeking / Health tourism
HOMICIDE

by **PeterMac** 25.08.14 14:21

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Assistant chief constable Graham said today: "Any case of homicide is a tragedy in Scotland, and particularly that of a child.

"A huge number of people came out looking to find Mikaeel and do what they could to help, and that was hugely beneficial to managing such a large-scale operation. We very much looked at every possible option from the outset.

"Clearly we had to focus on the early stages on what had initially been reported to us, that Mikaeel had gone missing of his own accord, but with a child so young, and because of that so vulnerable, we were also looking at all other possible options in the background and over a fairly short period of time that led us to the suspicion that what we'd initially been told wasn't correct.

"From the outset we had a major investigation with specialist detectives as well as the widespread search and over the course of the first day of the inquiry that made a transition from a missing person inquiry into a full-scale criminal investigation."

EXACTLY what Dr Amaral and his team did in fact.
Start with what you are told, and see where that takes you, but keep an open mind.
And yes, DCI Redwood knows this. As do all the members of his team. They have done it all their professional lives.

by TheTruthWillOut 25.08.14 14:53

Do you think Redwood/his team are legit Peter? And if not, what would it take to convince at least 30 detectives (+ the Portuguese) to conduct a whitewash in the highest of high profile cases?

At what point does a missing person investigation become a murder investigation?

At what point does a missing person investigation become a murder investigation?

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Re: At what point does a missing person investigation become a murder investigation?

Re: At what point does a missing person investigation become a murder investigation?

Tilbury Illegal Immigrants,

Statement from the ACC in KULAR case

Re: At what point does a missing person investigation become a murder investigation?

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