A murder probe is continuing today after a body believed to be missing Weybread man Peter Stuart was found on Friday night. Police are still trying to find his wife Sylvia Stuart. Updates below.
Officers found the body at around 7.15pm yesterday in woodland next to the home of grandparents Peter and Sylvia Stuart in Weybread, north Suffolk, who were reported as missing at around 7.15am that day. They were last seen on Saturday May 28.
Suffolk Police said this morning that while formal identification is still to be carried out, the body is thought to be that of Peter Stuart, 75.
A blue tent has been set up in the woodlands next to the house. At least 10 police vehicles were parked outside the home on Saturday morning, including dog units and forensics.
Enquiries are continuing to locate Sylvia Stuart, 69, and police are continuing to appeal for help to trace her. She has not been seen since last Saturday.
Searches are continuing in the area as of 2pm.
Officers could be seen searching in fields near the pensioners' home on Mill Lane on Saturday and firefighters were called in to search as well.
Detective Chief Superintendent Simon Parkes said: 'We are treating this as a murder enquiry and as a missing person investigation as we continue to search for Sylvia.
'We are currently carrying out a number of enquiries to find out exactly what has happened and would continue to ask anyone with information to come forward. We are particularly keen to speak to anyone who may have seen anything suspicious in this area of Weybread between Saturday 28 May and today and would ask anyone who can help to call us.'
Officers will be in the area throughout the course of the day to carry out searches and to speak to any member of the public who would like to pass on information or who would just like to talk to police.
To reassure neighbours police have stepped up patrols in the area.
A female neighbour in her 40s said she was shocked to hear the news of the discovery of the body and another male neighbour described Mr Stuart as a 'pleasant' man.
A major investigation was launched by police yesterday after Peter and Sylvia were reported missing from their home at Brick Kiln Cottage at Mill Lane, Weybread, near Diss.The couple, who were keen line dancers, were last seen last Saturday and after police found the couple's car was still at their home yesterday a major search was launched.
Suffolk Police confirmed a body was found at 7.15pm on Friday and were treating the death as suspicious as the area was cordoned off.
Officers have been in contact with the couple's daughter.
Yesterday afternoon, neighbours spoke of their shock as police were seen searching the couple's home, at Brick Kiln Cottage, and the surrounding area as a detective went from house to house to ask residents if they had any information on their whereabouts.
Crime scene investigators and search officers could also be seen at the property in the afternoon, which is next to the home where the couple's daughter had lived.
As well as the search team, a helicopter hovered over Mill Lane as officers carried out their search and investigations.
The Stuarts had lived in Mill Lane for at least 10 years.
The driveway to their home has a large red post box, the property and its driveway has trees and there are pots on the front wall for summer flowers.
The Stuarts are thought to have come from Essex and were both retired.
They had one daughter Christy, who is married with one daughter.
When police launched their missing person appeal Det Chief Superintendent Parkes said he feared the couple had been the victim of a crime.
He had said: 'While there is still a possibility they may have left of their own free will, the fact that their car is still at the property and they had not told anyone they were going away is out-of-character. We have to fear that they have become the victims of crime.'
•Anyone with information about the incident should call Suffolk Police on either 01473 782000 or 101, quoting CAD number 49 of Friday, June 3.
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