Latest news with #LeeHockey
Daily Mail
6 days ago
- Daily Mail
Police chief apologises for claiming multiple bodies had been found in a murder probe after two bodies were discovered within 10 miles of each other
A police and crime commissioner has apologised after claiming multiple bodies had been found in a murder probe after two bodies were discovered within 10 miles of each other. Two murder investigations were launched in Cornwall after two bodies were found in separate woodlands. Earlier this month, Daniel Coleman's remains were found in Paramoor Woods near the Cornish village of Sticker. Officers had been scouring the area for several months - aided by specialist teams from the National Crime Agency - when they found the 43-year-old's remains. Mr Coleman vanished last month from St Austell and is thought to have died between June 2 and July 7. A man has been charged with his murder. The body of Lee Hockey, 50, was also found in a nearby woodland between Truro and Probus on July 1. Alison Hernandez, Police and Crime Commissioner for Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, previously told a panel several bodies were discovered as part of the investigation into Mr Coleman's death. 'We've found dead bodies in that wood,' Ms Hernandez said, adding that officers were trying to work out 'how many were there'. The Police and Crime Commissioner has since issued an apology after these claims were refuted by the local police force. Alison Hernandez, Police and Crime Commissioner for Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, said: 'In trying to be helpful I responded to an operational question at the Police and Crime Panel today, however, I was not fully up to date with the facts of the investigation. I apologise for any alarm this may have caused. 'The police have operational primacy over these matters. Any investigation will unfold rapidly and I was not in possession of all the facts at that time.' Detective Superintendent Jon Bancroft previously confirmed Mr Hockey's death is being investigated separately. 'We currently have three separate murder investigations being conducted in the Cornwall area,' Mr Bancroft said, referring to a third inquiry which was launched after a fatal fire at a residential property in Newquay on July 22. He continued: 'I have oversight of all of these investigations at this time, and can confirm they are being carried out independently of each other and are not believed to be linked. 'I can categorically state that we have recovered remains believed to be those of Daniel Coleman only from an area of woodland in Sticker. No other remains have been located at this scene to date.' It comes after Ms Hernandez said it had been necessary to bring in extra support to aid the investigation. 'Some of the elements of that operation I can't speak about but some of the things are very obvious,' she said. 'As you know there is a large crime scene that has been identified in Cornwall that is requiring a lot of effort to even scene guard the area. 'The level of expertise, some of the mutual aid we've brought in, is expertise in specific types of investigations that we didn't have. 'The National Crime Agency is supporting the organisation at the moment. 'I want to thank all the other forces that are coming in at a very busy time for themselves to offer mutual aid. It's largely investigative mutual aid that we've brought in. 'Until some of those elements have been established of exactly what we're dealing with there, it will be made public at that time. 'I know there's been some information in the media. We've got a huge forensic tent down there.' Mr Coleman was reported missing on June 1. James Desborough, 39, of Lower Sticker, has been charged with his murder. Desborough has since appeared before Bodmin Magistrates' Court and was remanded in custody. He is due to appear before Truro Crown Court on August 8. When asked 10 days ago about 'multiple bodies' in the search area, Devon and Cornwall Police said they were working to recover Mr Coleman's body and that forensic investigations of the site related to him. The third murder inquiry follows a fatal fire at a residential property in Newquay on July 22. The body of a man in his 30s was found in the property and a 33-year-old man from Bolton was arrested on suspicion of murder.
The Sun
08-07-2025
- The Sun
Man, 50, found dead in woods during hunt for different missing person leaving cops baffled as they launch murder probe
THE body of a man found during a different investigation has been identified, as cops launch probe. Devon and Cornwall Police have confirmed the body is Lee Hockey, 50, from the Truro area. 2 2 They discovered the body in the wooded area between Truro and Probus while investigating another crime. His death is being treated as suspicious while an investigation is underway. Police have informed his next of kin. They are appealing to the public for help with his last movements, especially for dashcam, doorbell or CCTV footage from Trispen, Tresillian or the surrounding villages. Lee was last seen in the Trispen area on the evening of Monday June 23. Detective Inspector Rob Smith told the BBC: "His whereabouts from there are currently unknown but it is likely he would have been travelling on foot." There will be a heightened police presence in the area while an investigation is carried out. Detective Inspector Smith added: "At this time there is no information to suggest that there is any wider risk to the community, however, we appreciate that an incident of this nature will cause concern. "Local officers will also be carrying out reassurance patrols. If you have any concerns, please approach an officer or contact us through 101."
Daily Mail
08-07-2025
- Daily Mail
Man, 50, found dead during hunt of Cornwall woodland as police launch murder probe
A 50-year-old man has been found dead during a search in a woodland in Cornwall sparking a police murder investigation. Lee Hockey, 50, from the Truro area has been formally identified and his next-of-kin have been informed, police have confirmed. Mr Hockey's cause of death is currently being treated as unexplained, but it is believed to be suspicious. Detectives investigating the suspected murder are appealing for information after his body was found in woodland between Truro and Probus on Tuesday July 1. Officers were called to woodland between Truro and Probus at around 6pm where Lee's body was located. Devon and Cornwall Police are asking for the public's help to trace Lee's last movements. Detective Inspector Rob Smith, from the Major Crime Investigation Team, said: 'Our investigation is continuing at pace and we are now appealing for information from the public which may further assist us. 'It has been confirmed that Lee spent the most of Monday 23 June in Truro city centre, before taking a bus out to the Trispen area. Detectives investigating the suspected murder are appealing for information after the Lee's body was found in woodland between Truro and Probus on Tuesday July 1. 'The last-confirmed sighting of Lee was in Trispen later that evening. His whereabouts from there are currently unknown but it is likely he would have been travelling on foot. 'We are urging anyone who may have passed through Trispen, Tresillian or the surrounding the villages, and who has dashcam, doorbell or CCTV footage in those areas, to please check them. 'If you have anything that may be relevant to us, please report it as a priority.' Det Insp Smith added: 'There will be a heightened police presence around the area of Trispen and Tresillian in the coming days while officers carry out enquiries. 'At this time there is no information to suggest that there is any wider risk to the community, however, we appreciate that an incident of this nature will cause concern. 'Local officers will also be carrying out reassurance patrols. If you have any concerns, please approach an officer or contact us through 101.'
BBC News
08-07-2025
- BBC News
Murder detectives identify man found in woods as Lee Hockey
Detectives investigating a suspected murder in Cornwall have named the man who was found in a and Cornwall Police confirmed the body has been formally identified as Lee Hockey, 50, from the Truro said the death was being treated as unexplained but was believed to be suspicious, after Mr Hockey was found in woodland between Truro and Probus on 1 July. Police said his next of kin had been informed and officers were appealing to the public for help to trace his last movements. Det Insp Rob Smith from the major crime investigation team said the investigation was "continuing at pace"."It has been confirmed that Lee spent the most of Monday 23 June in Truro city centre, before taking a bus out to the Trispen area," he said."The last-confirmed sighting of Lee was in Trispen later that evening. "His whereabouts from there are currently unknown but it is likely he would have been travelling on foot." 'Heightened police presence' The police force has urged anyone who may have passed through Trispen, Tresillian or the surrounding the villages, and who has dashcam, doorbell or CCTV footage in those areas, to please check them."If you have anything that may be relevant to us, please report it as a priority," said Det Insp also said there would be a heightened police presence around the area of Trispen and Tresillian in the coming days while officers carried out Insp Smith added: "At this time there is no information to suggest that there is any wider risk to the community, however, we appreciate that an incident of this nature will cause concern."Local officers will also be carrying out reassurance patrols. If you have any concerns, please approach an officer or contact us through 101."
