Officers investigating the murder of two men in Cornwall today revealed they had made a ”significant discovery” in farmland.
Semi-professional boxer Brett Flournoy, 31, and friend David Griffiths, 35, were reported missing last month after failing to check into their hotel in Newquay, Cornwall.
Devon and Cornwall police spent three weeks searching for the men – who both have children and partners – but failed to find them.
They arrested a 28-year-old man from St Austell on Wednesday on suspicion of double murder – without having discovered the bodies of the men.
But today, Detective Superintendent Steve Carey, of Devon and Cornwall police, said they were confident the two men had been killed.
He admitted that a link to drugs was one of the lines of enquiry currently being investigated.
Search dogs and specialist teams are currently combing through farmland in St Austell, Cornwall.
Det Supt Carey said: ”Police investigating the disappearance of two men who were known to be visiting Cornwall have arrested a man on suspicion of murder.
”Searches are ongoing on an area of farmland in St Austell. Officers are excavating an area of ground where a significant find has been made.”
Brett Flournoy and David Griffiths
Det Supt Carey would not comment on whether the find was human remains.
He added: ”We have good reason to suspect that this is a murder enquiry.
”At the moment this is a very complex but fast moving investigation which changes minute by minute.”
He said victim recovery dogs were searching an area of farmland, which was connected with the 28-year-old suspect, who was arrested in Newquay on Wednesday at midday.
Up to 60 officers, including 40 detectives, are currently working on the investigation.
Det Supt Carey said the investigating was ”painstaking” and ”lengthy”.
Brett, of Merseyside, is a welterweight and light middleweight fighter who was travelling with pal David, of Berks., for a social visit in Cornwall when they were last seen on June 16.
The men’s white van, with the registration number A10 VVR, was last seen at the car park for the Tamar Bridge which joins Cornwall and Devon.
The van has the company name Tile Star on both sides but police said neither man worked for the firm.
Superintendent Julie Whitmarsh, area commander for East Cornwall, said the murders were not ”random”.
She said: ”This is not a random incident. The person in custody was known to the two men.”
Detective Inspector Costa Nassaris appealed with anyone with information to come forward.
He said: ”They are both in their early 30s, both have children, they both have partners, they both have close family and friends who are obviously very distraught.”
Anyone with information is urged to contact police on 0845 777 444.
so gutted for the families!!!
we tried so hard to find you lads its just too hard to take in!
x
absolutely devastated for Bretts family its the worst possible news we could have had god bless brett an david xx