THE HEARTBROKEN family of a man who was beaten to death by a gang of men from Coventry have renewed their appeal for any information which could help police locate his body six years after his death.
Surrey man Jesse Richards was killed in Cleeve Prior near Evesham over a drugs debt on July 31, 2009.
He was subjected to a sustained and brutal attack and his body is thought to have been taken to an area in Warwickshire by his attackers to be disposed of.
Five men were jailed in connection with his death in April 2012 and were sentenced to over 58 years in prison.
They were city man Kevin Houston who was jailed for 19 years for manslaughter and six-and-a-half years for obstructing a coroner; Matthew Robert Taylor ffrom Wyken who was jailed for 13 years for manslaughter.
Three other men – James Doe from Essex who was jailed for 18-and-a-half years, Joseph Gene Doe, who was jailed for four years for assisting his brother and David Reuben Butler from Slouugh who was also jailed for four years for obstructing a coroner.
Jesse’s body was never recovered and six years on his mother, Lucy Richards, has appealed to the public for any information which could help to trace her son.
“I know nothing will bring my son back to me but I appeal to the public and ask they put themselves in my shoes. My son has been taken from me in the most violent way, six years on and I still have not been able to lay his body to rest. I don’t know where he is and the pain of not being able to visit his resting place is too much to bear.
“If you have any information at all please get in touch with police and give me the opportunity to lay my son to rest.”
Detective Superintendent Mark Loader led the investigation for West Mercia Police.
He added: “The manner in which Jesse died was horrific and brutal and his family continue to suffer years after his death. I ask anyone who has any information to come forward to police and allow them the opportunity to say goodbye.
“I will also like to remind the public that a £10,000 reward is on offer for any information which leads to the recovery of Jesse’s body.”
Anyone with information can contact police on the non-emergency number 101.
Information can also be passed on anonymously through the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or via their website: www.crimestoppers-uk.org
