UK UK - Corrie McKeague, 23, Bury St Edmunds, 24 September 2016 Media *NO DISCUSSION*

Police halt search after finding no sign of missing airman Corrie McKeague

21 July 2017

Police hunting missing airman Corrie McKeague have admitted he may never be found after a £1.2 million search of a landfill site ended in failure.

Detectives said they still believed his body was at the site, but after 20 weeks of sifting through 6,500 tonnes of rubbish they had found no sign of the RAF gunner.

The officer leading the hunt for Mr McKeague, 23, stormed out of a press conference after saying the search of the site had been halted.

Detective Superintendent Katie Elliott of Suffolk Police got out of her chair and left the room after saying that everything possible had been done to find Mr McKeague.

Earlier she said she still believed that his body was buried somewhere under tons of rubbish at the giant 120 acre site in Milton, Cambridgeshire.

[...]

Ms Elliott denied that the search of the site had been halted on grounds of cost after she admitted that the hunt had so far cost £1.2million.

She said that the search of the site had been carried out in an area where it had been identified that waste was dumped over the period Corrie went missing

But she said officers had now finished searching the area where rubbish was 26ft deep and had no further information about where they should be looking.

Ms Elliott added: "It is not a matter of cost. The investigation has never been about money.

"We searched the areas where we had information that the waste was deposited

Beyond that it is very difficult to establish where we would look for Corrie."

Ms Elliott said Corrie's family had been told the search of the tip was being called off.



Police call off search for missing RAF gunner Corrie McKeague at landfill site

21 July 2017

[...]

Tim Passmore, [Suffolk] police and crime commissioner, said: “It is extremely sad that the mystery surrounding Corrie’s whereabouts has not been resolved.

“My thoughts are with Mrs Urquhart and Mr McKeague and their families – I cannot even begin to understand what they have been going through since their son’s disappearance.

“The officers that have been involved in this search have worked tirelessly for months, in very difficult circumstances.

“I know they will be disappointed not to have found Corrie but I know that the Constabulary has done all it can locate him and I’d like to express my thanks, on behalf of the communities I serve, to them all.

“Throughout this operation I have been regularly briefed and made sure the Constabulary has had the funding and equipment it needed to carry out this unprecedented search.

“This is the biggest missing person enquiry that the Constabulary has undertaken. Our officers have worked closely with the National Crime Agency, the College of Policing and the Suffolk Lowland Search and Rescue (SULSAR) at various stages in the enquiry and I would also like to publicly express my gratitude to them.”



Mum of missing Corrie McKeague 'angry' and 'devastated' as police call off landfill search

21 July 2017

The mother of missing RAF serviceman Corrie McKeague has told ITV News Anglia she's "angry" and "devastated" following Suffolk Police's decision to call off their search of a landfill site in Cambridgeshire.

[...]

I'm just devastated. When they told me that they were going to be finishing the search of the landfill, it was my understanding that what they were actually going to be saying is: 'we've finished the search of the landfill and we haven't found Corrie - he's not there.'

It was an absolute surprise to me on Wednesday when I was told: 'we're finishing the landfill, we're not searching anymore - but we do still think he's in there.'

When Detective Superintendent Katie Elliott's saying it's got nothing to do with money, then why aren't you continuing searching if you still think he's in there?

– NICOLA URQUHART, CORRIE MCKEAGUE'S MOTHER



'We are heartbroken' devastated Martin McKeague reacts to end of landfill search for son

21 July 2017

The father of missing RAF gunner Corrie McKeague has spoken of his 'devastation' after police called off the search of Milton landfill today (July 21).

[...]

Today he issued a statement of behalf of the McKeague family in which he praised the police.

It read: "The McKeague family in Scotland is devastated by today's announcement by Suffolk Police that the search of the landfill site in Milton for Corrie has now come to an end.

"At no point did we think that the search of the site would end this way, and as all the evidence tells us that Corrie is somewhere in that landfill site, we are heartbroken at the thought that we may not be able to bring Corrie home together.

But we are, as a family, somehow going to get through this together.

"We would like to express our deepest thanks to the volunteers from the Norfolk and Suffolk police for their heroic efforts over the past 20 weeks in searching the landfill site at Milton for my son.

"As you know, my wife Trisha and I have had the opportunity to meet these incredible people face-to-face each week, and to thank them personally for everything they’ve done.

"From the very beginning we felt this was the very least a parent could do to show them our respect and appreciation, and we’ve been proud to do it.

"The McKeague family in Scotland has never doubted the police’s reasoning for, nor the timing of the search of the Milton landfill site.

"The police have prioritised their efforts based on facts, not speculation. And anyone who suggests otherwise is, in our opinion, committing the ultimate act of disrespect – it’s like a slap in the face to the people who have given so much of themselves in the search for Corrie."

[...]

"We would also like to thank all of the people who have stood up and supported this effort, and who have stayed strong and not fallen for the erroneous suggestions of any criminal activity in the search for my son, or the cynicism, gossip, and speculation in the media that has unfortunately littered this process from day one... regarding suggestions of criminal activity and other nonsense surrounding the disappearance of my son.

7 things we learned at the Corrie McKeague press conference

21 July 2017

[...]

1. Corrie was 'known to sleep in bins'

[...]

DS Elliot confirmed that as well as other facts they had obtained - including the 100kg bin lorry weight and Corrie's mobile phone signal - they knew from people that Corrie was known to have slept in bins.

[...]

2. The search won't turn into a criminal investigation

Nicola Urquhart, Corrie's mum, said that police had told her that a criminal investigation will be carried out.

However, police confirmed that this will not be the case, as DS Elliot says there is no evidence to suggest that there is any foul play involved.

She clarified that police had looked at the possibility.

3. Police will search incinerator waste

Why police preserved incinerator waste and did not choose to search it while looking in the landfill site remains to be seen, but DS Elliot says the final line of action will be to search incinerator waste.

Commercial waste from Bury St Edmunds is usually taken to The Red Lodge Waste Transfer Station.

If it cannot be incinerated or recycled, then the lorry takes waste to Milton or Great Blakenham.

[...]

4. An external police force will conduct an independent review

The search for Corrie McKeague has been undertaken predominantly by Suffolk and Norfolk police forces.

[...]

In this case, Essex Police will be reviewing the search to see if the two police forces have missed anything.

5. The cost of the search

DS Elliot confirmed that the cost of the search has exceeded £1.2 million, which was provided by Tim Passmore, the Suffolk crime commissioner.

[...]

6. The police force have worked incredibly hard on this

The police confirmed that this had been one of the biggest and complex searches of a landfill site in the country.

[...]

On top of that, the force have exhausted CCTV, witness accounts and searched "ground, air and water" - but to no avail.

7. Police are certain Corrie was taken to the landfill

DS Elliot said: "Having been through all the possibilities in detail, there is nothing to support any theory other than that Corrie was in the bin."



Corrie McKeague: Mother considering taking out landfill injunction

22 July 2017

The mother of missing RAF serviceman Corrie McKeague has confirmed she may seek an injunction to stop police filling in a landfill site in Cambridgeshire where she believes her son's body is buried.

Writing on the 'Find Corrie' Facebook page, Nicola Urquhart said she was considering the action after police decided to call off their 20-week search of the area in Milton on Friday.

A petition calling for officers to continue searching the landfill has already gained more than 13,000 signatures.



Petition calls for Corrie McKeague search to continue as mum reveals source claimed to 'know who killed him'

22 July 2017

The mother of missing airman Corrie McKeague has claimed her son may have been killed before being dumped in landfill - prompting the huge hunt for his body.

[...]

But today, Saturday July 22, Nicola revealed the dig started at the site in Milton, Cambridgeshire, after a call to the reward hotline claiming Corrie has been killed.

Writing on the Find Corrie site, Nicola said: "Somone (sic) claimed to me on a reward phone to have been told who killed Corrie and put him in the landfill.

"The police know this and that is why they started looking at the process of the landfill and went on to search the landfill, yet they are not exhausting all lines of enquiry by completing the search.

"Effectively what we have been told by Suffolk and Norfolk police is if anyone wishes to dispose of a body be that your child or mine.

"Put it in a bin and let it go to landfill because they will simply walk away."

Corrie McKeague: RAF airman now missing for 10 months

24 July 2017

Today marks 10 months since airman Corrie McKeague disappeared in Bury St Edmunds.

[...]

His mother says she still hasn't given up hope he will be found.

Honestly, I'm going to do my absolute upmost to try and get the police to do just that little bit more.

We have money from the 'Find Corrie' fund. If it's down to money, I'll find a way of paying the police to continue.

– NICOLA URQUHART, CORRIE'S MOTHER



Father of Corrie McKeague blocks entrance to Milton landfill with campervan

24 July 2017

The father of missing Corrie McKeague blocked the entrance to the Cambridgeshire landfill site just days after police called off their search for the RAF serviceman.

A video on social media this afternoon shows Martin McKeague’s campervan barricading the entrance to the waste site in Milton, where specialist officers had been searching for 20 weeks.

[...]

Mr McKeague, with his wife Trisha in the video, thanked Suffolk police for their efforts, but says he wants the search for his son to continue.

He told the Cambridge Evening News via Facebook: “All the facts and all the evidence lies at this landfill site. As a father, as a mother, I think you would probably do the same thing.

"We just need them to do the right thing and continue to look for Corrie.”

A spokeswoman for Cambridgeshire police said: “We received a call at 2pm to say a caravan was blocking the road. But at 2.20pm, we were advised it had been moved.

“We have not heard anything since then."



'My son is in that landfill, and I don't want this to stop'


24 July 2017

The father of Corrie McKeague has vowed to block the entrance of a landfill site if police do not agree to continue their search for his son.

[...]

But today (Monday), Martin McKeague arrived at the site with his campervan and parked it in front of the entrance to the landfill - to ensure rubbish trucks could no get in.

Corrie's dad is due to have a meeting with officers later today and says he will return, and continue the blockade, if he does not get the response he wants.

[...]

Mr McKeague said he was grateful for the painstaking work carried out by police officers and believed the area they had checked so far had been done thoroughly.

But he said the cell identified by police as holding rubbish from the time and place Corrie went missing "has maybe been half done".




Parents united in calls for Corrie landfill search to continue

24 July 2017

[...]

Both parents are meeting separately with Suffolk officers this evening to try to convince them to reverse a decision to call off the search

Police agree to halt filling in landfill cell after meeting missing Corrie McKeague’s family

24 July 2017

[...]

Today (July 24), after Martin McKeague temporarily blocked the landfill entrance with his campervan, the family had a meeting with the police force.

Speaking after this meeting, a spokesman for Suffolk police said they have now agreed with the landfill owners to leave the cell untouched.

[...]

A spokesman for Suffolk police made the following statement at 9.40pm on Monday, July 24.

He said: “The search for Corrie remains a live and active investigation as we all remain committed to finding him.

“We have exhausted the search as to where Corrie is mostly likely to be at the landfill site at Milton, although we acknowledge and understand the frustration that Corrie’s family, friends and many supporters feel in relation to this.

“We will now take time to pause and reflect where we are with the investigation and will continue to carefully review it as we have done from the outset.

“With this in mind while we no longer have an operational presence at the site at Milton, the police have agreed with the company that run the site to leave cell 22 in its current state and will not be using it for the deposition of waste until the review is concluded.

“As said on Friday, we will now commission an external police force to carry out an independent review of the investigation. The identity of the force that will conduct this is still to be established as we are eager to ensure thatit is a force that satisfies the need for complete transparency and independence.

“We are confident this will be a forensic, detailed and impartial review that will leave no stone unturned. If this review establishes further lines of enquiry we will pursue them.

“We reiterate that although it is not a criminal investigation, our work to locate Corrie remains on-going. This will include work to search preserved waste that was incinerated to see if this will establish if there are any further clues as to what happened to Corrie.

“This incinerated waste will be subject to examination and where necessary forensic analysis in the coming weeks.”

Corrie McKeague's mother 'relieved' over decision to halt filling in of landfill site

25 July 2017

The mother of missing RAF gunner Corrie McKeague has expressed her relief at police halting the filling in of the landfill cell where her son is believed to be buried.

[...]

A petition has also been launched urging police to continue the search for Corrie, and at the time of writing had gathered 24,755 signatures.

[...]

Writing on the Find Corrie page on Tuesday morning, Nicola, 48, wrote: "I am so pleased that Suffolk Police have heard our voices and listened.

[...]

"This does not mean they are going to search the landfill, but as I wrote in an earlier post, we now have not lost that option.

"This does not mean the police will start searching again, but it does mean they are listening to us and will take what we say into consideration. This is called HOPE."



U-turn over claims Essex Police will conduct Corrie McKeague investigation review

25 July 2017

Police have backtracked over claims that a specific force would be carrying out the independent review into the search for missing RAF airman Corrie McKeague.

[...]

Yesterday (July 24) Suffolk Police confirmed to the News that Essex Police would be conducting the review of the case.

Commenting on the Find Corrie Facebook page this morning (Tuesday, July 25) Corrie’s mother Nicola Urquhart said she was also told an external review of the Suffolk Police investigation would be carried out by Essex Police.

However, a spokesman for the Suffolk force today claimed the force which will conduct the review is “still to be established”.



Petition to re-start Corrie search tops 25,000

25 July 2017

An online petition calling on Suffolk Police to re-start their search of a landfill site to find the body of Corrie McKeague now has more than 25,000 signatures.

Supporters of the family set up the webpage after the force announced on Friday it had found no sign of the missing RAF airmen and officers had ended their finger-tip search at Milton in Cambridgeshire.

In just three days it has already attracted more than 25,000 signatories.

Corrie McKeague's dad vows to keep landfill search going - 'even if it means selling the shirt off my back'

27 July 2017

The father of missing RAF gunner Corrie McKeague has spoken of his determination to continue the landfill search for his son following a scheduled review of the investigation by another police force.

[...]

In a press conference last Friday Suffolk Police DS Elliott said the next step is to have the investigation reviewed by an external force to see if there are any other lines of inquiry.

She added that she stood by the claim that all evidence points to "Corrie going in that bin to the landfill site.”

Speaking from his motor home near the landfill yesterday afternoon (July 26), Martin said if the review corroborates that the evidence is correct he will do all he can to ensure the hunt for his son's remains at the site continues.

He continued: "The review needs to be done to make sure that there has been no mistakes and everything leads to Corrie being in this landfill.

"Bring another police force in and put all the other stuff to bed. And if they come back here they have a pretty good indication of where the [landfill workers] were working [at the time of Corrie's disappearance] and how it [the refuse] was all pushed in by the site owners."

When asked what he will do if Corrie is never found he said: "It's a hard thing to live with and it would be even harder if this review is done and it all points to that landfill.

"I am hoping that that decision is made to come back. If not, we'll have to do what we need to do, even if that means selling the shirt off my back then that's what I will do.

Police forensics to check incinerated waste for Corrie connection

1 August 2017

A Suffolk Police spokesman said: “Police searching incinerated waste at the Great Blakenham energy-from-waste facility have recovered some material that requires further examination in order to establish whether it is in any way connected to the Corrie McKeague missing person enquiry. “At this stage it cannot be confirmed whether or not this material is in any way linked to Corrie and so it will be subject to specialist examination and forensic analysis in the coming weeks. “Police expected that it would be necessary to take items recovered from the search away from the site in order to examine them more carefully. “Corrie’s family have been kept updated about the search. The search of the incinerated waste is now complete.”



Police recover ‘material’ in search for missing RAF serviceman Corrie McKeague

1 August 2017

Police searching for the body of Corrie McKeague have uncovered material at an incinerator plant in Suffolk which requires further tests to establish if it is linked to the missing RAF serviceman, it has been announced.

Suffolk Constabulary cannot confirm at this stage if the material, recovered from the Great Blakenham energy-from-waste facility, is linked to the 23-year-old, who has been missing for 10 months.

Specialist examination and forensic analysis will be carried out over the “coming weeks”, the force said.

Police have revealed there was some waste taken to Great Blakenham from bins in the Brentgovel Street horseshoe in Bury St Edmunds on the night Corrie went missing, but it was deemed unlikely he would be in there because of the nature of the commercial waste inside. It also did not tally with the route of his mobile phone signal.

[...]

The small amount of incinerated waste at Great Blakenham which police have been investigating has come from other bins in the horseshoe area.

Corrie's mum doubts her missing son will be found in incinerator waste

4 August 2017

[...]

Writing on the Find Corrie facebook page, Nicola said: "The rubbish had already been incinerated by the time police started looking at these bins, however they kept the incinerated rubbish secure.

It has always been stated to police that it is very unlikely that Corrie was able to get through this process without being seen, as such it was far more likely that Corrie was in landfill as that's the way his phone went.

"Once the search at the landfill concluded, the police searched through nearly 700 tonnes of waste. This did find a substantial number of bones. (They do not burn at the temperature at which the incinerator is set at.)

"This was expected due to the waste that is dealt with there. At this time, there is nothing to strongly indicate that any of these have any connection to Corrie, police are having the items forensically examined to ensure this and be able to conclude fully this line of enquiry."

[...]

Yesterday (August 3) Corrie's dad Martin McKeague also said he strongly believed his son is still in Milton landfill.

An independent review is underway into Suffolk Police's handling of Corrie's disappearance.



‘Someone knows something’ – £50,000 reward reissued in search for missing RAF Honington gunner Corrie McKeague

5 August 2017

The mother of missing RAF serviceman Corrie McKeague has said she still believes someone knows what happened to her son as a £50,000 reward is relaunched.

Nicola Urquhart told members of the Find Corrie group last night that a Suffolk businessman has decided to reissue the substantial sum in the hope it would bring fresh leads to the case.

The reward had originally been offered earlier this year in exchange for information relating to Corrie’s disappearance.

But it was withdrawn in February as hopes were pinned on finding the 23-year-old at a landfill site in Milton, Cambridgeshire.

[...]

Posting in the group last night, Mrs Urquhart said: “From the very first time I spoke publicly about Corrie disappearing I have said someone knows. I still truly believe that.

“Suffolk police have carried out an enormous amount of work to try to find Corrie. “However, they can only continue to do this if they have lines of enquiry and information coming into them.

No human bone material found in missing Corrie McKeague search

11 August 2017

Suffolk Police say no human remains have been found after they investigated material from a waste incinerator in the search for Corrie McKeague.

[...]

At the beginning of August, police searching incinerated waste at the Great Blakenham energy-from-waste facility near Ipswich say they've recovered material that requires further examination in order to establish whether it is in any way connected to the missing person enquiry.

But police have now ruled out human remains in the ash.

"Suffolk police have engaged experts to examine incinerated waste gathered from the Great Blakenham energy-from-waste facility and it has been confirmed that this matter does not contain human bone material."
– SUFFOLK POLICE SPOKESMAN

Suffolk Police have also confirmed that the way the case has been handled will be investigated by East Midlands Special Operations Unit to identify if there are other lines of inquiry to follow up in the hunt for Corrie McKeague

"Investigative reviews are a key part of any lengthy major investigation and we are confident this will be a detailed and impartial review. If this review establishes further lines of enquiry we will pursue them. No timescale has been set for the completion of the review but the first phase is due to be completed by the end of September.
– SUFFOLK POLICE


'We never expected anything': Corrie McKeague's dad responds to incinerator search news

11 August 2017

Corrie McKeague's dad has said he never expected police to find anything during a search of incinerated waste for a trace of his missing son.

[...]

Martin McKeague said today: "The McKeague family in Scotland never expected the Suffolk police to find anything in their search of the incinerator.

"And while we appreciate not only their incredible efforts and thoroughness for carrying out that task, we’re going to continue to stick to the facts."

[...]

Mr McKeague added: "It’s hard to believe over ten months have now come and gone.

"And it’s even harder still to accept that after my son walked into that loading bay called 'the horseshoe' in Bury St Edmunds he somehow ended up in the Milton landfill site. But those are the facts."

Missing Corrie Mckeague's Mother To Retrace His Steps On Anniversary Of Disappearance

6 September 2017

The mother of missing RAF gunner Corrie Mckeague will retrace his last known steps a year after his disappearance.

The airman, who was based at RAF Honington, was last seen on September 24, 2016, following a night out in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk.

Nicola Urquhart, Mckeague's mother, plans to travel with several other family members to the town and hope that their walk will “jog someone’s memory”, helping to piece together what happened to the serviceman.

Suffolk Police Update

21 September 2017

A year on after RAF serviceman Corrie McKeague went missing officers investigating his disappearance will have a visible presence in Bury St Edmunds town centre this weekend.

A police pod will be present in the town centre where Brentgovel Street meets Risbygate Street opposite ‘The Grapes’ public house. This will be staffed from 9pm (Fri 22 Sept) to 4am (Sat 23 Sept), 9am to 5pm (Sat 23 Sept) and from midday (Sun 24 Sept). Police officers from the investigation will be present and will be available to speak to members of the public in an effort to see if this can generate any new lines of inquiry or any fresh information as to what exactly happened to Corrie.

Police are also issuing CCTV stills of individuals that officers believe may have had some interaction with Corrie on the night he went missing. Officers would like to stress that the individuals depicted are people who are not key witnesses, are not being treated as suspects and have no direct link with Corrie, but may have information that may help understand what happened to him.

Female image 20a shows a woman in the doorway of Flex nightclub on the Saturday morning (24 Sept 2016) at about 2.23am. Female image 20b is a still of the same woman.

Male image 20a shows a male also entering Flex nightclub. Male image 20b is an image of both the male and female (in image 20) together. Images 26 are images of an individual outside McDonalds that police have issued previously and have been unable to trace. The first was taken at around 4.30am outside McDonalds, the second inside McDonalds is taken at about 5.30am. The image of the bald male with the red jacket is of someone walking away from Flex nightclub at about 1.25am on 24 September. The final images of Persons L,M,N,O are all from the entrance to Flex nightclub at about 1.16am on 24 September 2016 and who officers know that Corrie had a brief interaction with before the group of four males entered the Flex club

Detective Superintendent Katie Elliott said: "Our thoughts are with Corrie’s family and friends 12 months on from his disappearance. It is fair to say that a year on from him going missing, we never thought we would be in this position of not yet locating Corrie or establishing exactly what happened to him. We have always wanted to provide answers to Corrie’s family about what happened to him.

“The search for Corrie remains an active investigation.

“We would appeal directly to the public who were out in Bury St Edmunds exactly 12 months ago on the night he went missing and maybe a year on are once again back in the town centre this weekend.

“We would ask the public to call us if they have fresh information that may be of benefit to the investigation. We have deliberately placed the police pod on Brentgovel Street as we know this is the route Corrie took on that evening and hope our presence will jog someone’s memory.

“As we said in July the fact that Corrie wasn’t found at the landfill site during our extensive search remains bitterly disappointing to us. We had compelling information that directed us to this particular area of the landfill site.

“The investigation has been a detailed and methodical one to date and this will continue in the weeks ahead. The East Midlands Special Operations Unit has been commissioned to conduct a detailed review of the investigation to date. The aim of the review is to assist in identifying whether there are any lines of inquiry that could lead to information that would locate Corrie. The review is progressing well and is due to be completed in the next few weeks.

“If it should reveal further lines of enquiry that will help police find Corrie the force will pursue them vigorously.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Major Investigation Team at Suffolk police on 01473 782019 or 101.

Corrie was reported as missing on the afternoon of Monday 26 September 2016 after he failed to turn up for work at RAF Honington as planned. He had the weekend off and had headed into Bury St Edmunds for a night out with his friends and colleagues on Friday evening, 23 September 2016. The last confirmed sighting of Corrie was on Saturday 24 September 2016 at around 3.25am on Brentgovel Street in the town centre.

Images [at link]

Suffolk Police Update

22 September 2017

Police investigating the disappearance of Corrie McKeague can confirm that four of the individuals (images L,M,N,O) released to the media in CCTV images yesterday (Thur 21 September) have now been identified.

It comes after one of the males came forward yesterday evening and identified himself following the appeal to the media. He has also given names of the three friends he was with on the night and whose images were also issued.

From speaking with this male police understand there was a brief interaction ending on friendly terms with Corrie and as there was no further contact after this they are not considered to be significant to the investigation as was stated yesterday. The group of four knew Corrie and joked with him before they went their separate ways. Police will speak to the three other males in due course.

Police are also able to confirm that the male and female (images 20a SE11 and 20b SE11) have come forward and identified themselves. The two people will also be spoken to in due course.

Images below:

Bald male with the red jacket is of someone walking away from Flex nightclub

[removed]

Images 26 are images of an individual outside MacDonalds that police have issued previously and have been unable to trace.

Corrie McKeague - The mystery of the airman who disappeared

22 September 2017



Corrie McKeague's mum retraces his final steps one year on

24 September 2017

The mother of Corrie McKeague has retraced the last known steps of her son one year on from the night he went missing.

[...]

For over an hour Nicola walked through town, explained Corrie's activities the night he went missing and answered questions from members of the public.

[...]

The crowd of supporters were taken from the Flex nightclub on St Andrews Street South, where Corrie was separated from his friends, and past Pizza Mamma Mia in St Andrews Street North where he bought takeaway food.

The airman was then caught on CCTV walking onto Brentgovel Street near The Grapes Pub, eating his food, before he took a nap for about two hours in the doorway of Hughes Electrical Store nearby.

The 23-year-old later walked past the junction of St Johns Street to a refuse collection area behind Greggs, known as the horseshoe area.

[...]

Alongside the walkabout, police officers leading the investigation into Corrie's disappearance set up a 'police pod' in town for people to view CCTV footage of the airman's final steps.

[video of the full walk can be viewed at the above link]



'It has been a nightmare': Missing Corrie McKeague's dad speaks of heartache a year on

24 September 2017

Corrie McKeague's dad has spoken of the anguish he has felt since his son went missing a year ago.

Martin McKeague told our reporter Anna Savva that the year spent not knowing where his son is has been a "nightmare".

Mr McKeague spent Friday night (September 22) in Bury St Edmunds, to mark the anniversary of the disappearance of the 23-year-old RAF serviceman, who was last seen at 3.25am on September 24, 2016.

[...]

To hear the whole interview with Martin McKeague, watch the video above.

Suffolk Police Update

3 October 2017

Police are to extend the search for Corrie McKeague at the Milton landfill site.

The decision to resume the search at the site for the missing airman has been taken after thorough consideration of all the issues involved.

Careful re-checking of the data available to the Major Investigation Team has concluded the area of the original 20-week search is still the location where there was the highest likelihood of finding Corrie.

However, the nature of waste disposal and its movement is not a precise science.

During the inquiry officers have had to acknowledge and understand the potential for variance in the information they have to work from.

The pause following the initial search between March and July has allowed detectives the opportunity to thoroughly scrutinise the robustness of this data once again.

The extended search, which is likely to take four to six weeks, will concentrate on an area of Cell 22 next to the site of the earlier search. The indications are this is the next most likely area where Corrie could be.

Detective Superintendent Katie Elliott said: "Throughout this rigorous investigation we have remained committed to following all reasonable lines of enquiry in our endeavours to discover what has happened to Corrie.

"Confronted by the variances in the way waste can be deposited and through further investigation we cannot discount the possibility Corrie may be elsewhere in Cell 22. Therefore, we believe our decision to extend the search area is the correct one.

"We have spoken to Corrie’s mum and dad to explain our decision, and share in detail the reasons behind it. We will, of course, continue to work together with Corrie’s family as the inquiry progresses.

"We can only hope that over the coming weeks the resumption of the search brings the answers that we are all hoping for and especially, of course, for Nicola and Martin.

Corrie was last seen in the area of Bury St Edmunds known as the ‘horseshoe’ where there was a bin lorry collection at around 4.15am - 4.20am on Saturday, 24 September, 2016.

Only one bin was collected from the area that morning. Waste from it was initially taken to a transfer station at Red Lodge and then to the Milton landfill site.

On-site preparatory work for the resumption of the search will commence this week. The full-scale search is likely to begin once this has been completed.

A review of the Suffolk Constabulary investigation is being conducted by the East Midlands Special Operations Unit (EMSOU).

The constabulary’s decision to extend the search is supported by the review team although its report has yet to be concluded.

Corrie Mckeague: Suffolk Police to resume landfill search

3 October 2017

[...]

The force said it took the decision to restart the search in conjunction with East Midlands Special Operations Unit, which is reviewing its investigation.

Det Supt Katie Elliott, from the Suffolk force, said: "We can't be 100% certain, and that's because of the variances there are with what happens to waste, but the information we have gathered has given us the case to go back there."

She said officers have "explained fully" why they are restarting the search to Mr Mckeague's family.

"They are pleased that there is a further active line of inquiry and some hope we may be able to provide the answers."

Suffolk Police Update

4 October 2017

Police investigating the disappearance of Corrie McKeague can confirm that another individual who had their image released to the media on Thursday 21 September has now been identified.

It is the image of a bald male with the red jacket walking away from Flex nightclub in Bury St Edmunds at about 1.25am on 24 September. This individual has come forward to police but has not been able to assist the investigation.

Landfill search for Corrie McKeague stopped because of 'incorrect information', says mum

4 October 2017

[...]

Nicola said the initial search was carried out based on evidence from landfill owners FCC Environment, which owns the two sites, and a private haulage firm which it hires.

The serving police officer claimed they suggested just one lorry could have carried Corrie from the holding site in Red Lodge on the Monday after his disappearance.

She said: "They've taken this step because the police themselves could not understand why they have not found him.

"They were utterly convinced they were going to find him and it really did baffle them.

"They now realise that the information they were given wasn't correct and they've went back and kept questioning it and they've finally realised that it wasn't just one lorry they should have been following."

However she defended the police decision to search in the wrong place saying she was now "extremely confident" in their current investigation.

"The problem is that they can only go on what they were told at the time and what they were told at the time was that it was just the one lorry that went in," she added.



Corrie’s mum claims police followed “wrong” bin lorry in hunt for her son

5 October 2017

[...]

The lorry understood to have emptied the bin it is believed Corrie may have been in, dumped its load in “bay three” at the Red Lodge Transfer Station in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, on Saturday 24th September last year .

The dumped refuse was then crushed with a “dozer” along with other rubbish already in the bay.

According to Nicola, it was previously understood that on the following Monday another lorry came along to collect the rubbish and transport it to the Milton Landfill, Cambridgeshire.

However, she added that not all of the rubbish was collect from the bay at the transfer station meaning that a further three lorries which collected rubbish at the bay at later date may have picked up his body.

Writing online Nicola said: [...]

After the Biffa bin lorry unloads on the Saturday morning nothing else is put on top. However, on the Monday 8th further lorries dump their rubbish in bay three.

“The weight the police had originally uncovered for the rubbish that was removed in the first load was also now found to be incorrect.”

“This now means it is highly likely that the Biffa rubbish was never collected in that first load or went with the lorry the police had followed to Milton Landfill.”

“Police have now found out that there were in fact three Lorries that picked up at Red Lodge and took rubbish to Milton Landfill so now all three of these vehicles have been checked to see if these also have GPS Tracker and their Tachographs have been checked.”



Police deny claim Corrie landfill search based on details that were ‘not correct’

9 October 2017

Nicola said the initial search was carried out based on evidence from landfill owners FCC Environment, which owns the two sites, and a private haulage firm which it hires, which suggested just one lorry could have carried Corrie from the holding site on the Monday after his disappearance.

She claims police have now discovered it could have been more than one, which has prompted them to widen the search. But Suffolk Police say the landfill ‘cell’ they searched contained a whole week’s waste from Red Lodge and other transfer depots.

[...]

A Suffolk Police spokesman said: “The area of Cell 22 within the original search parameters was identified as a result of a number of pieces of information and was extended twice following further data that came to light including data in respect of a vehicle taking waste to the landfill site.

“The fact remains that the waste excavated to date includes approximately one weeks’ worth of waste from FCC Red Lodge and other transfer stations throughout the region and so the waste from a number of lorries delivering to the site during this period has been excavated and searched.

"The area that has been searched still remains the location where Corrie was most likely to have been found and would still have been searched first had all of the information that has now been obtained through the diligent and painstaking work of the investigation team been known at the start of the search..

“The disposal of waste is not a precise science and there are a number of locations where waste can be delivered into an open cell. The police have searched the most likely area and as a result of their work are able to establish the next most likely area.”

‘Blatant lies’ hampering Corrie search, says his dad

18 October 2017

[...]

Now Corrie’s dad Martin, who lives in Cupar with his wife Trisha, has issued a statement on behalf of the McKeague family in Scotland in which he stresses his support for Suffolk Police.

“Over the past year, the investigation into my son’s disappearance has been plagued by blatant efforts to use the media to misinform the public about the facts in the search for my son, Corrie,” he said.

“The McKeague family in Scotland have made repeated efforts to fix these lies as each was printed.

"We have tried at every opportunity to tell the truth, including that MIS, the agency that was paid tens-of-thousands from the pubic crowdfunding provided absolutely no new information to the police whatsoever; there was never a DSMA-Notice (which is an official request to news editors not to publish or broadcast items on specified subjects for reasons of national security); the police never seized and searched the wrong bin lorry.

“All of the above can be confirmed by the Suffolk police.”

He continued: “We believe that we owe my son, the public the police and the volunteers the truth.

Suffolk Police Update

20 October 2017

Police can confirm that the resumption of the search for Corrie McKeague at the Milton landfill site will begin next week (Monday 23 October).

The extended search, which is likely to take around four to six weeks, will concentrate on an area of Cell 22 next to the site of the earlier search. The indications are this is the next most likely area where Corrie could be.

Careful re-checking of the data available to the Major Investigation Team has concluded the area of the original 20-week search is still the location where there was the highest likelihood of finding Corrie. However, the nature of waste disposal and its movement is not a precise science, hence the requirement to extend the search.



Corrie McKeague Search To Resume Next Week

20 October 2017

[...]

Search teams will return to the Milton landfill site in Cambridgeshire on Monday to look for the serviceman.

An area, which has been labelled Cell 22, will be the focus and it is expected to last around four to six weeks.

'Cell 22' is 10,000sq metres in size, and the new area that police will search is over 1800 cubic metres.

[...]

His mother spoke to Forces News about the police decision to re-start the landfill search for the missing airman.

“I’m really pleased that they’ve re-started the search. It’s been horrible having to wait, feeling like nothing was getting done… Since July it’s been difficult just waiting.

"That must mean they’re still getting the incorrect information and something else has happened, or that somebody else is involved, so they’ll have to go down that route.



Search for missing airman Corrie to resume next week

20 October 2017

[...]

And the news has been welcomed by Corrie’s relatives, with father, Martin who lives in Cupar with his wife Trisha, saying the wait for a date to be given had been “difficult for everyone.”

“The entire McKeague family in Scotland welcomes the news from the Suffolk police that the search for Corrie at the Milton landfill site will resume on Monday 23rd October,” he said.

“As you can imagine, the time between the decision to halt the search back on Friday 21st July and today’s announcement has been difficult for everyone.

“However, this family continues to remain focused on the facts and on finding my son, and we will continue to support the Suffolk police and the volunteers from both the Suffolk and Norfolk police departments 100 per cent, as we have done from the outset.

"Equally, we will continue to challenge those individuals who have since the beginning of this investigation purposefully lied and misinformed the media and the public about the facts in this investigation. Those who have supported us have a right to know the truth.

“The facts and evidence in this investigation clearly point us towards the landfill site, and the police are doing the right by continuing to look for Corrie there.

Police resume search for missing Corrie McKeague at Milton landfill site

23 October 2017

Police have resumed the search for 23-year-old missing airman Corrie McKeague today at a landfill site in Milton, Cambridgeshire.

An extended search of the site, which is expected to take around four to six weeks, will concentrate on an area of cell 22, close to the site of the initial search for the airman.

[...]

The new search area, in Milton, Cambridgeshire, is the next most likely place where Mr McKeague could be found, Suffolk police said.

A spokesman said: “Careful re-checking of the data available to the Major Investigation Team has concluded the area of the original 20-week search is still the location where there was the highest likelihood of finding Corrie.

“However, the nature of waste disposal and its movement is not a precise science, hence the requirement to extend the search.”

[...]

Detective Superintendent Katie Elliott, of Suffolk police, added: “Throughout this rigorous investigation we have remained committed to following all reasonable lines of inquiry in our endeavours to discover what has happened to Corrie.

“Confronted by the variances in the way waste can be deposited and through further investigation we cannot discount the possibility Corrie may be elsewhere in Cell 22.

“Therefore, we believe our decision to extend the search area is the correct one.”