Police have named a dead sex offender as a suspect in the murder of a teenager who went missing three and a half years ago.
Neil Maxwell would have been arrested in connection with the murder probe into Leah Croucher if he were alive, according to Thames Valley Police.
He died by suicide in April 2019, the force said.
It comes just days after police found possessions belonging to the missing teenager – last seen in February 2019 – and human remains at a property in Milton Keynes.
A murder investigation was launched following the breakthrough sparked by a member of the public alerting police to the property on Monday.
Thames Valley Police named Maxwell as the murder suspect on Friday.
Detective Chief Superintendent Ian Hunter: “It is unusual to name a suspect, but we have also learned this week that during the time when Leah went missing, and whilst the owner of the property was not in the UK, Maxwell was the only person to have keys to the property.”
He said Maxwell was employed to carry out some maintenance work at the house on Loxbeare Drive, which was unoccupied at the time of Leah’s disappearance. Its owner lives abroad and rarely visits the UK, he added.
“Whilst Maxwell has been nominated as a suspect, this does not mean he is guilty of any offence,” the head of crime for Thames Valley Police said.
“We will keep an open mind, and our detailed investigation will seek to gather sufficient evidence to establish the truth. This may or may not implicate or exonerate Maxwell or any other persons from the investigation.”
The suspect had previous convictions for sexual offences against females, according to DCS Hunter. He was also wanted in connection with a sexual assault in Newport Pagnell, a town in the Milton Keynes area, in November 2018.
“Maxwell knew he was wanted in connection with the sexual assault and was travelling across the UK and making concerted efforts to evade arrest, including using false names and changing his mobile phone and vehicles,” he said.
Thames Valley Police’s head of crime said there were 18 attempts to arrest Maxwell before he was found dead.
“During our entire investigation to find Leah, there has been no direct link between Maxwell and Leah until Monday this week when we were called about the property in Loxbeare Drive,” he 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.”
Leah Croucher’s family have visited the property where the discoveries were made in Milton Keynes (PA)
DCS Hunter appealed to anyone who had contact with Maxwell between November 2018 and his death in April 2019 to contact Thames Valley Police, as well as anyone with information that might help their inquiries.
Officers have remained at the scene of the Furzton home since discovering Leah’s belongings and human remains, which are yet to be formally identified.
A post-mortem was due to take place on Friday, which police said may take some time to come back.
Thames Valley Police said it expected to conduct forensic examinations at the scene in Loxbeare Drive for several weeks.
Neil Maxwell has been named as the murder suspect
