Found Deceased John Hardy, 36. UK National missed his flight home, last contact was a distressed phone call to a family member, Benidorm 14 Dec 24.

[imstilla.grandma]

On Sunday, December 29, they were offered hope when a female relative of one of the suspects in the case said she would send a location for John’s body. Unfortunately, this turned out to be a map with a circle drawn around a 155-square-kilometre area.

Therefore, his sister Courtney George, together with other family members and the help of some expats, has been searching in the cliffs and rocky area of the Cabo Roig in Costa Blanca South which is very hard to access. Desperate for answers, Courtney has even taken her brother’s bed sheets from home for his scent in the hope that dogs involved in the search are able to pick something up

John Hardy: Spanish police believe he was shot

Spanish police are no longer treating John hardy as a missing person but a murder investigation, as they now believe he was shot.

euroweeklynews.com

 

[Tower]

I don't think we can infer this. In the MP cases I have been associated with, families are encouraged to nominate a single point of contact/focus for media. This allows the rest of the family and friends the smallest relief at a terrifying and exhausting time for them. (Note: I do not work in the US where the frenzy around these cases and hunting down family and friends appears to me like a distasteful sport at times.)

RBBM. I am interested what you mean by this. Who is participating in this “distasteful sport?” Do you mean media or family members?

 

[OceanElix]

Well, I guess it's all but figured out now, but I still have to complain about this one thing: what do they mean by "a very distressing phone call", for heaven's sake?? Seems ridiculous to just say that and no details!

There's a video he sent to family, that's what they refer to as the very distressing call.
It's mentioned in the family Facebook missing group and is posted on various online platforms, I'm not sure I can link as I haven't yet seen it in msm.

 

[Melt71]

RBBM. I am interested what you mean by this. Who is participating in this “distasteful sport?” Do you mean media or family members?

In the context of the OP asking why only one family member had been speaking publicly and querying why others weren't speaking out at the time. I noted that in the cases I have been associated with (not in the USA) it is usually recommended that families select one person to act as focus point for media. One reason is try to shield people from any media frenzy that develops.

 

[Tower]

In the context of the OP asking why only one family member had been speaking publicly and querying why others weren't speaking out at the time. I noted that in the cases I have been associated with (not in the USA) it is usually recommended that families select one person to act as focus point for media. One reason is try to shield people from any media frenzy that develops.

That is exactly what is recommended here in the US, from what I’ve read by law enforcement sources. I would say the media in many countries (UK is a prime example) will report a soundbite from any family member willing to speak freely. That is what seemed to occur in the Hannah K case, imo.

 

[StillDiggin]

John George: Family believe Belfast man was lured to his death in Spain

Family say they last heard from John on Saturday 14 December when they received a “distressed” phone call from the Belfast man

www.irishnews.com

 

[Sillybilly]

There's a video he sent to family, that's what they refer to as the very distressing call.
It's mentioned in the family Facebook missing group and is posted on various online platforms, I'm not sure I can link as I haven't yet seen it in msm.

Without discussing it further, please use the Report feature to send the link to the Moderators who can determine whether or not the "family Facebook missing group" is allowed.

Thanks !!

 

[Wurzel]

There has been footage posted by John's partner on Facebook of Spanish police searching for John today (Christmas Day). I cannot provide a link for this, but the footage appears to be taken in this location (link points to Google Earth). A Google search for "'THE LUCKY LION' Cabo De Palos, Alicante" will get you there, if the link doesn't work. The Lucky Lion is an Irish pub.

I have not seen the footage of the police search in the Lomas de Cabo Roig area, but just some historic background to that specific location linked to on Google Earth, zoom out there is a sewage works to the south and to the west is a farm. In one of the fields between the sewage works and the farm a decomposing young male body was found back in September 2023 by farm labourers, thought to have been hidden there for several months and wearing beach wear - do not believe that individual has ever been identified, or not publically anyway.

 

[Normal Norm]

I have not seen the footage of the police search in the Lomas de Cabo Roig area, but just some historic background to that specific location linked to on Google Earth, zoom out there is a sewage works to the south and to the west is a farm. In one of the fields between the sewage works and the farm a decomposing young male body was found back in September 2023 by farm labourers, thought to have been hidden there for several months and wearing beach wear - do not believe that individual has ever been identified, or not publically anyway.

It looks like there are 2 or 3 irrigation reservoirs in that area, too. I have been following this case very closely, but have seen no mention of any further searches being carried out in the area (other than the original one which took place on Christmas Day).

 

[Normal Norm]

Admins on the "Let's find John George" Facebook group appear to have turned off all comments. I don't know if there is any significance to this. I suspect there is.

"Let's find John George" Facebook group

 

[nhmemorymaker]

Admins on the "Let's find John George" Facebook group appear to have turned off all comments. I don't know if there is any significance to this. I suspect there is.

"Let's find John George" Facebook group

FB Admin just stated this:
Thank you everyone for all your love and support. It means a lot to the family in their search to find John.
Admin have temporarily turned commenting off, as we are busy organising tonight’s vigil making sure everything is in place.
Thank you for your patience, and we hope to see you all later

 

[imstilla.grandma]

“John was lured here on false information to meet friends on a holiday. John was lured over here to be shot dead… he thought he was coming over here for a few days and would be home after that. But John’s not coming home alive.”

Darren said he believes those responsible carried out the alleged killing in Spain because it would be easier for them to ‘get away with it’.

John Hardy: Missing Belfast dad 'was lured to Spain and shot to death', say family - Olive Press News Spain

THE family of a missing Belfast man believe he was 'lured' to Spain for a holiday before being 'shot dead'. John Hardy, aka John George, 37, has been

www.theolivepress.es

 

[nhmemorymaker]

The sister has been quoted in previously linked msm articles. Imo, this case is nothing like the HK case.

dbm

 

[nhmemorymaker]

“John was lured here on false information to meet friends on a holiday. John was lured over here to be shot dead… he thought he was coming over here for a few days and would be home after that. But John’s not coming home alive.”

Darren said he believes those responsible carried out the alleged killing in Spain because it would be easier for them to ‘get away with it’.

John Hardy: Missing Belfast dad 'was lured to Spain and shot to death', say family - Olive Press News Spain

THE family of a missing Belfast man believe he was 'lured' to Spain for a holiday before being 'shot dead'. John Hardy, aka John George, 37, has been

www.theolivepress.es

This statement from his brother, is also in nthe Olive Press article.

Darren went on to admit that John had become involved in the criminal world but was ‘loved unconditionally’.

 

[Wurzel]

The reporting of an individual being arrested was accompanied by the above image of a Policia Local car blocking off a street. It was incorrectly reported that this street is in Cabo Roig, this is in fact in the Los Almendros - La Florida area of the Orihuela Costa.

Street view link - Google Maps

Above is a map of the Orihuela Costa by area. Los Almendros - La Florida is to the north, the Irish Pub where the 'search teams' have been meeting is in Lomas de Cabo Roig, roughly centre. The white line diagonally across the top right hand corner marks the boundary between the Municipality of Orihuela (including Orihuela Costa) and that of the Municipality of Torrevieja.

The Irish drug boss John Gilligan was arrested at a property just over boundary in Torrevieja near Los Altos for drugs in October 2020.

 

[Shellie85]

I hope they find him soon. I’ve watched some video clips of his dad speaking and the poor man is broken. No family deserves to be going through what they are going through.

 

[Melt71]

More from the article quoted above:

www.theolivepress.es/spain-news/2025/01/01/dangerous-friend-of-missing-belfast-dad-john-hardy-flees-spain-and-could-be-in-thailand-say-family/#google_vignette

Courtney (sister) said her brother's friend "who cannot be named for legal reasons, has offered no help to find John and could have fled to Thailand immediately after the alleged crime – although she admitted they have no concrete evidence to support that theory."
......
Article also says "Spanish police are known for keeping their cards close to their chests during any investigation. They very rarely update the press or public until a significant breakthrough is made, especially in the early days of a missing persons case."

 

[rsteen]

Another individual questioned by Spanish police has left Spain for Belfast. A different person to the man who has supportedly left for Thailand.

Missing man’s partner endured flight next to suspect who skipped bail in Spain

A suspect in the disappearance of Belfast man John George skipped bail in Spain and flew back to Northern Ireland on the same flight as the missing man’s partner, it can be revealed.

www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk

 

[wtiger]

i am aware of the identities of all involved here but i am unsure what would and would not be allowed to be posted on here......possibly best that i say nothing?

 

[FacelessPodcast]

......
Article also says "Spanish police are known for keeping their cards close to their chests during any investigation. They very rarely update the press or public until a significant breakthrough is made, especially in the early days of a missing persons case."

RSBM: As a Spaniard/Brit dual-national with family in Spanish law enforcement:

This is absolutely true. As seen with the Ana Knezevich case, the Policía Nacional will hardly ever give press conferences or case updates. As I understand it, this is similar throughout much of the rest of Europe, too. And even in the case of a breakthrough, updates from the PN are uncommon.

My heart goes out to John's family.