Detectives investigating the four-year-old unsolved killing of a teenager believe, “someone, somewhere, knows something and is keeping quiet.”
That’s the message from officers who are continuing to investigate the death of Kieran Williams, whose body was found in a makeshift grave several weeks after his disappearance.
The 18-year-old victim went missing from his home in Esplanade West, Sunderland on April 18, 2022, and extensive inquiries followed in a bid to locate him.
Six weeks later, however, the makeshift grave was found on a disused industrial estate south of the River Wear, between the Northern Spire Bridge and Claxheugh Rocks, in Sunderland, on May 31, 2022.
Kieran’s body was found in the grave, having been stabbed at least 23 times and attempts had been made to set his corpse on fire.
Two Sunderland teenagers were later charged in connection with his death and stood trial at Newcastle Crown Court, where they were both acquitted of murder, in February 2023.
One of them, Louis Hackett, 19, of Fordenbridge Square, was found guilty of manslaughter and was jailed for five years.
But the trial judge concluded that Kieran’s killer remained at large.
Detective Superintendent Matt Steel, the Senior Investigating Officer in the case, has today (Saturday April 18) urged that the public should, “do the right thing”, and help them secure closure for Kieran’s family.
He said: “Saturday the 18th of April 2026 marks four years since Kieran disappeared and was tragically murdered.
“This was a horrific case where Kieran, a young man at only 18 years old, was brutally stabbed at least 23 times.
“As ever, our thoughts remain with all of Kieran’s loved ones as they grieve their loss, and we remain committed to getting answers for them.
“A dedicated team of detectives continue to review the evidence in this case and follow every avenue to identify any other offenders involved in Kieran’s murder.
“While one man was found guilty of manslaughter at trial in 2023, our investigation remains very much active, and we will continue to follow up on any new leads.”
Det Supt Steel added: “And on the anniversary of Kieran’s disappearance, I am urging anyone who knows something about his death to do the right thing and share what they know.
“We know there were other unidentified fingerprints left at the scene of the murder.
“Ultimately, someone, somewhere, knows who they might belong to and is keeping quiet.
“In the coming weeks, we will be carrying out inquiries in the area of the crime scene and obtaining fingerprints from people in the community.
"If you are reading this appeal, and know something about the circumstances of Kieran’s death, or other people involved, no matter how small it may seem, please do not delay in contacting police.”
Anyone with information about Kieran William’s murder is asked to contact Northumbria Police as soon as possible through its dedicated Major Incident Public Portal online: Public Portal
Anyone who believes they have been at the site of the grave, formerly owned by Coles Cranes, between Easter and Jubilee weekends of April 15 and June 2 in 2022, for a legitimate reason, is also urged to get in touch so they can be eliminated from the investigation.
Crimestoppers, the independent charity, is offering up a reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for the Kieran’s murder.
The charity operates independently of the police and guarantees complete anonymity.
IP addresses are never traced, calls are not recorded, and there is no caller ID or 1471 facility.
Read next ... more court stories from The Northern Echo, by clicking here
Kieran Williams murder trial: Louis Hackett guilty of manslaughter
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Two arrested amid ongoing investigation into Kieran Williams murder
The reward will only be payable for information passed directly to Crimestoppers, not to the police.
Callers must request a reward code when contacting 0800 555111.
If submitting information online at the website: crimestoppers-uk.org, the 'keeping in contact’ facility must be used, and a reward code requested at the time initial submission.
