Body of dad missing for three weeks found in boot of car

The body of a dad who has been missing for more than three weeks has been found in the boot of a car in south London.

Justin Henry, 34, was last spotted on CCTV on the evening of October 15 buying food at a McDonald’s drive-thru restaurant in London Road in Croydon.

He was reported missing to police the following day and his family had not heard from him since then.

But now police have confirmed the body of a man was discovered in a red Nissan Almera parked near Nicholas Court in Dale Road, Purley, on Monday evening.

Formal identification is yet to take place but his family have been kept informed of the developments, police say.

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: ‘In order to preserve possible evidence, the car was treated as a crime scene.

‘This was forensically examined and a body recovered from the boot of the vehicle the next day.’

A post-mortem examination was carried out on Thursday, however no formal cause of death was established and further tests will be carried out.

Officers have already charged two men, aged 28 and 29, with murder, while a 28-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of kidnapping but has been bailed pending further enquiries until January 2024.

Detective chief inspector Matt Webb, of the Met’s specialist crime command, said: ‘Due to the need to preserve forensic evidence, officers conducted a careful and methodical examination of the scene.

‘However, on Tuesday, we confirmed that a body was in the car and we spoke to Justin’s family later that day. We are waiting to formally confirm the identity of the body.

‘My heart goes out to his family who have suffered weeks of anxiously waiting for news. Justin’s family are understandably very upset and we would ask media to respect their privacy at this very difficult time.

‘While we have charged two people with Justin’s murder, we would still like anyone who has any information of the red Nissan’s movements in the days following Justin’s disappearance to call police – we still need and ask for the public’s help.’

Mr Henry was last seen in person on the evening of October 15 at his partner’s address in Brixton, south London, before he was later seen on CCTV at the McDonald’s drive-thru at around 9.50pm.

He then drove from the fast food restaurant to the nearby Waddon New Road where his vehicle, a silver Mercedes E Class, remained for approximately two-and-a-half hours.

The Mercedes belonging to Mr Henry, who has links to the SE23/Forest Hill area, was later found on October 16 in Kingswood Drive, SE19.

It is unclear who was driving the vehicle when it arrived at Kingswood Drive shortly before 1am due to an indistinct CCTV image of the driver, police said – but Justin’s family said that it was not him.

Officers have conducted forensic examinations of an address in Croydon and Justin’s car, as well as carrying out extensive CCTV and phone inquiries.

Police are still working to establish Mr Henry’s movements, in particular late on October 15 and in the early hours of the following day.

Detectives are urging any witnesses or anyone with information to come forward.

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