AN investigation into the disppearance of a Hartlepool man is now a murder inquiry, say police.
Three men aged 36, 38 and 48 from County Durham were arrested on Tuesday morning on suspicion of conspiracy to murder in connection with the disappearance of Scott Fletcher.
Mr Fletcher was last seen in the lay-by opposite the Jet garage on the A181 at Wheatley Hill in County Durham at about 8.20pm on May 11, 2011.
Those arrested remain in police custody.
The layby on the A181 at Wheatley Hill in County Durham where Mr Fletcher was last seen
Detective Superintendent Jon Green, of Cleveland Police, said: “As a result of the ongoing investigation, the disappearance of Scott Fletcher is now being treated as a murder inquiry; however, a body has not yet been located.
“Scott was reportedly last seen on May 11, 2011 at around 8.20pm near to the Jet garage on the A181 at Wheatley Hill in Durham.
“Anyone with information regarding Scott’s disappearance or anyone who may have seen him is asked to contact Cleveland Police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or www.crimestoppers-uk.org.”
Mr Fletcher is known to have had connections to the criminal underworld and could have come to some harm say police.
Scott Fletcher has been missing since 2011
Some 300 people have been spoken to since he went missing.
Officers have visited a number of areas, including Liverpool, Cumbria and Durham where Mr Fletcher had links.
He was 27 when he went missing and has a daughter, Lucie.
Two years ago, Mr Fletcher's devastated mother, Julie Fletcher, said: “I can’t explain the torture of not knowing where my son is. It’s like a dark cloud over us. We don’t know whether we will get a phone call to say something terrible has happened to him, or he will come walking through the door.
“He just wouldn’t leave us like this, his daughter Lucie and stepson Bradley miss him terribly. I know Scott made some poor choices, but he is still my son and I need to know what has happened to him, or get him home where he belongs.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact Cleveland Police on the non-emergency number 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800-555111.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article