Found Deceased UK - Leah Croucher - Emerson Valley - Milton Keynes - #6

[Angel_nix]

It's already been stated that he was the handyman/property maintenance contractor. It wouldn't be unusual for him to take a ladder in with him and noone think anything about it.

 

[Miss_French]

As Miss Scarlet said there’s a car park so nearby he could have easily have grabbed her there and no one would have seen. Plus I think she walked past the house, he’s spoken to her previously and he’s asked her for help . And I think that he held her captive is unlikely because surely neighbors would notice something?

But apparently no-one noticed the maintenance man who had access to the house for 6 months! The DM quoted a neighbour who'd seen a gardener, but seems like some of the hired help was invisible...

 

[Kinners_D]

But apparently no-one noticed the maintenance man who had access to the house for 6 months! The DM quoted a neighbour who'd seen a gardener, but seems like some of the hired help was invisible...

Looking at google maps the only house that would have direct sight to the front of number 2, would be no.4 directly next door and no.13 at an odd angle and a reasonable distance. It's not hard to believe that no one saw his comings and goings.

ETA - It's actually creepily secluded for a normal city residential street.

 

[WiseOwl]

There are just so many historical examples where no-one saw anything directly. Children picked up right off the street and abducted on close-knit estates and no-one saw the actual abduction (Daniel Handley for example).

I always think, no-one saw Jill Dando getting shot dead in broad daylight on her own doorstep in central London, but it happened.

Milly Dowler was the classic case.

Just got off the train at a busy station, walking down a very busy road, last seen walking near a bus stop and then...she just vanishes. No-one saw anything.

 

[Skigh]

Or if Leah had spoken to her family? There was nothing to say she'd been abducted or murdered, she was missing, hence 'missing person': there seems to be a misconception that the term means someone who has run away.

From the beginning it seemed to me that the police were treating it as if Leah had voluntarily disappeared.

 

[Officer Dibble]

Maybe he's been set up? Do we know the details of his suicide. Usually blokes like him don't take their own life.

You make an interesting point. I hadn't thought of that. JMO

 

[Willowy]

I don't think so, they stated in the press conference that up until Monday, they was no link between him and Leah. I'd like to think, that they would've delved into him and his movements re Leah sooner if that was the case, and maybe she could have been found sooner.

No, the police didn't make the connection between him and Leah at that time. But if NM saw the appeal for info about his whereabouts, maybe he thought the police were onto him about Leah's disappearance?

 

[Officer Dibble]

I agree - I don’t see any reason why it’s not him. And I don’t think he’d have had help, unless it’s with hiding her. I wonder who the tip off was. I also think he maybe spoke to her previously and then, yes, asked for her help. It was interesting the forensics tent was front garden near the garage, possibly that’s where he grabbed her, or they’d stood etc. maybe they were looking for something dropped from her or hair traces etc .

You mean paid by someone in cash to hide a body?

 

[tedtink]

But apparently no-one noticed the maintenance man who had access to the house for 6 months! The DM quoted a neighbour who'd seen a gardener, but seems like some of the hired help was invisible...

That's not unusual. Most folk are just getting on with their daily lives minding their own business.
I couldn't even pick out my (student) neighbours in an ID parade, haven't got a clue who they are or what they look like.

 

[Plod]

You mean paid by someone in cash to hide a body?

What do you mean - that it wasn’t him but someone else and they’ve asked him to get rid of the body? Idk, I think he’s a convicted sex offender, his offending has just got worse.

 

[Observe_dont_Absorb]

It's already been stated that he was the handyman/property maintenance contractor. It wouldn't be unusual for him to take a ladder in with him and noone think anything about it.

It's one thing to have free access to the home and carry tools / ladder in and out, it's quite another to get a body up a ladder into an attic hatch. Also, it's a very specific location that would not enable a killer to evade their crime.

 

[Rusty Braincells]

Milly Dowler was the classic case.

Just got off the train at a busy station, walking down a very busy road, last seen walking near a bus stop and then...she just vanishes. No-one saw anything.

Yes good example, and that was indeed a more busy street than this looks. I think we overestimate how often people are paying attention to what’s going on around them. I don’t look out of the window of my flat very often for example, so an abduction could happen on my doorstep and unless I was entering or leaving my flat at the time or checking on the weather by looking outside, then I probably wouldn’t see it.

Where my dad lives is hugely residential and perhaps one or two people will walk down the street per hour, even at 8.30am.

 

[Acp196]

i just find it hard to believe that no one saw anything. 8:30 or whatever time in the morning, school run/going to work time, I know it was only 500 metres away from where she was last seen but I dunno, somebody must have seen them together going to the address. They MUST have done?

I understand this sentiment, and most of us are probably thinking this too however many people are just wrapped up in their daily lives. Also, people do see things. For example Sarah Everard (RIP) was actually seen with WC and still nothing was done in that moment to stop him. That too was on a busy London road. I guess my point is that I’m hindsight we may ask ‘how did no one see this’ but in reality it’s not always so obvious. X

 

[Kinners_D]

It's one thing to have free access to the home and carry tools / ladder in and out, it's quite another to get a body up a ladder into an attic hatch. Also, it's a very specific location that would not enable a killer to evade their crime.

I don't want to type this...

We can't be sure the body was in one piece when moved to the attic.

 

[Plod]

That's not unusual. Most folk are just getting on with their daily lives minding their own business.
I couldn't even pick out my (student) neighbours in an ID parade, haven't got a clue who they are or what they look like.

I have to say that I live near a primary school and there are so many people and children about at 830 in the morning, I probably wouldn’t see someone being grabbed and abducted. But I think he lured her into the house, having chatted to her before plus saying he needed help. Eg to lift something heavy out of garage. Also, I still wonder about the night before. Who did she meet? Idk, something weird there.

 

[Willowy]

Looking at google maps the only house that would have direct sight to the front of number 2, would be no.4 directly next door and no.13 at an odd angle and a reasonable distance. It's not hard to believe that no one saw his comings and goings.

ETA - It's actually creepily secluded for a normal city residential street.

Have already established that no.13 opposite no. 2 has mostly been empty since at least 2018. It's another 'holiday' property owned by people living overseas. So any witnesses there are unlikely.

 

[rick shaw]

i just find it hard to believe that no one saw anything. 8:30 or whatever time in the morning, school run/going to work time, I know it was only 500 metres away from where she was last seen but I dunno, somebody must have seen them together going to the address. They MUST have done?

Its not unusual, if you chose right time place and method.I used a team of four , but singled up makes it difficult .Though not impossible

 

[SpursGyal]

Possibly, I think he definitely felt the net was closing in, but i just don't think the police would have been able to link him to her at the time of her disappearance, especially considering his multiple alias and locations.

No, the police didn't make the connection between him and Leah at that time. But if NM saw the appeal for info about his whereabouts, maybe he thought the police were onto him about Leah's disappearance?

 

[Kinners_D]

Have already established that no.13 opposite no. 2 has mostly been empty since at least 2018. It's another 'holiday' property owned by people living overseas. So any witnesses there are unlikely.

Oh I hadn't seen that, which means that no.4 was the only real place where witnesses would be likely to see anything. If they left for work earlier than 8:30 which is common, even internal driven commuting in MK can take some time in my experience, then there's a good possibility no one was there to see anything.

 

[Miss_French]

Looking at google maps the only house that would have direct sight to the front of number 2, would be no.4 directly next door and no.13 at an odd angle and a reasonable distance. It's not hard to believe that no one saw his comings and goings.

ETA - It's actually creepily secluded for a normal city residential street.

You can see the front door from the street and given there's schools within walking distance no-one happened to see him go in or out, anything parked, lights on?

Wonder where he was staying at night if not Loxbeare Drive...