A grim discovery has been made in a remote caravan, believed to be the body of Richard Scatchard, a missing sex offender wanted for questioning in connection with the murder of his girlfriend, Kelly Faiers. The 70-year-old Scatchard had been on the run for over six months following Faiers’ tragic death.
The disturbing sequence of events began on October 15 last year when Faiers, 61, was found deceased at Scatchard’s home in Minehead, Somerset. Police arrived to interview Scatchard but he managed to evade capture, sparking an extensive manhunt that persisted for half a year.
A member of the public alerted authorities to the discovery of a decomposing body within a caravan near Cleeve Hill in Watchet on April 4. Although formal identification is pending, authorities strongly suspect the deceased individual to be Scatchard.
Scatchard, a convicted sex offender known to have administered drugs to his victims, posed a significant threat, particularly to women with whom he formed relationships. Avon and Somerset Police had issued warnings about his dangerous nature, emphasizing his history of sexual offences and his potential risk to the public.
Detective Superintendent Gary Haskins, of the major crime investigation team, expressed condolences to Faiers’ family and assured them of ongoing support throughout the inquiry. Haskins also emphasized the need for a forensic post-mortem examination to ascertain the cause and timing of the man’s death, which is currently being treated as unexplained.
The investigation into Faiers’ death remains active and her passing is considered suspicious by authorities. Despite inconclusive findings from an initial post-mortem examination, police continue to pursue leads and conduct further tests in pursuit of justice for Faiers and her family.
Scatchard’s disappearance following Faiers’ death raised significant concerns, prompting a complaint to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) regarding the police response. The IOPC confirmed an ongoing investigation into Avon and Somerset Police’s handling of the case, emphasizing the need for thorough scrutiny of the circumstances surrounding Faiers’ tragic demise and Scatchard’s subsequent disappearance.
