Police investigating a gangland double murder today recovered a second body from a burned-out van buried on a farm – and arrested another suspect in the case.
The victims’ bodies are still being officially identified but are thought to be two men who went missing over a month ago.
Semi-professional boxer Brett Flournoy, 31, from Merseyside, and David Griffiths, 35, of Berkshire, were reported missing last month after failing to check into their hotel in Newquay.
A body was found after officers recovered a buried van on a patch of land in St Austell, Cornwall, on Friday. And yesterday, police confirmed a second had been located.
Devon and Cornwall police spent three weeks searching for the men – who both have children and partners – but failed to find them.
Ross Stone, 28, of St Austell, was arrested last Wednesday in relation to disposing of their bodies and yesterday a 25-year-old from Huddersfield, West Yorks., was arrested on suspicion of murder.
Detective Inspector Costa Nassaris, of Devon and Cornwall police, said: ”We can now confirm that we’ve recovered two bodies from the vehicle that was buried on farmland near St Austell.
”A post mortem examination has been conducted, but at this stage the bodies haven’t been formally identified. This is expected to take some time.”
He added: ”The investigation continues to move at a fast pace. Today a 25-year-old man was arrested in the Huddersfield area of West Yorkshire on suspicion of murder.
”This man will now be transported to Cornwall for questioning by detectives.
”The families have been updated on the progress of the investigation and our thoughts are with them at this terrible time. I would also like to thank the public for the assistance they have provided so far.”
Police previously admitted that a link to drugs is one of the lines of investigation being explored.
Up to 60 officers, including 40 detectives, have been working on the investigation.
Brett is a welterweight and light middleweight fighter who was travelling with pal David to Cornwall when they were last seen on June 16.
Their White van, with the registration number A10 VVR, was last seen at the car park for the Tamar Bridge between Cornwall and Devon.
The van has the company name Tile Star on both sides but neither man is believed to have worked for the firm.
On Saturday Stone appeared at Bodmin Magistrates’ Court charged with disposing a corpse to obstruct a Coroner and was remanded to appear at Truro Crown Court on Friday.
