Adrian Lynch. Team Voice Questions to Superintendent Stewart Gull. (Part 1)

Adrian Lynch.

Following the tragic discovery of Adrian Lynch's body Thursday 4th August in the Handois reservoir, Adrian's family, and the public, will consider Adrian being found and returned to his family as a blessing that many thought would never happen.

Adrian went missing on the 4/5th December 2015 after attending a work's party at the Merton Hotel. He remained missing for eight months until the discovery of his body on the 4th August 2016.

Adrian's funeral took place on Friday 19 August 2016 and a subsequent public memorial was held, on the same day, where, it is reported, more than three hundred islanders, family and friends, attended to pay their respects to Adrian. He is/was a very popular young man who clearly made a positive impact on many people's lives and will be sadly missed.

We, at Team Voice, and members of the public, are left with many un-answered questions and confusion. We are prepared to, and have, asked the questions (e-mail below) of the States of Jersey Police about the search and non discovery (for eight months) of Adrian in Handois Reservoir.

As is so often the case in Jersey, the official version of events don't appear to stack up under scrutiny, are contradictory, and, in places misleading.

Below is an e-mail sent from Team Voice to Superintendent Stewart Gull who appears to be "the face" of Operation Panama. It is unclear as to what has happened to the Senior Investigating Officer Lee Turner.

Detective Superintendent 

Stewart Gull.

E-mail to Detective Superintendent Stewart Gull.

"Dear Detective Superintendent.

Following the tragic discovery of the body of Adrian Lynch at the Handois Reservoir on Thursday August 4th 2016 we (Team Voice and Blog Readers) have a number of questions that would/could hopefully clear up a lot of confusion surrounding statements made by you in the local media, and possibly statements made by the local media themselves. 

For ease of reference we will number our questions in the hope you will answer them by their numerical order to avoid any more confusion?

1). You have, on a number of occasions in the local media, stated that Handois Reservoir is “incredibly deep.” Our research tells us that, at its deepest, it is 4 metres. Could you confirm our research is correct, and further, that you consider 4 metres of water to be “incredibly deep” in the context of a reservoir being searched with specialist sonar equipment and divers?

2). Experts from Humberside South Yorkshire Search and Rescue came to the Island to assist in the search of Adrian Lynch. They came with a very high tech sonar (Hammerhead Seaking) which they deployed in Handois Reservoir? 

(i) What was the maximum depth of the reservoir when they searched Handois?

(ii) How long did they spend searching Handois reservoir in total?

(iii) Did they record their Sonar Sweeps for future reference? 

(iv) Did they leave Handois reservoir categorically stating that it was clear? We ask this as Handois is a very small volume of water in which to search.

(v) Did Humberside inform you that Handois was NOT extensively searched?

(vi) Did Humberside police write a report on its search of Handois Reservoir?

(vii) If so, will it be published? If not why not?

(viii) If Humberside DIDN'T write a report, why not?

3). Due to the level of searching Handois reservoir was subjected to is it not reasonable to state that the evidence points to a high possibility that Mr Lynch might not have been in Handois Reservoir at the time of searching? This is also backed up by the pathologist report that appears on the States of Jersey Police Force.

4). If you are claiming that Mr Lynch WAS in Handois Reservoir from the night he went missing would you not agree that this is a gross failure of all agencies involved in searching this small area? 

(i) By not discovering Mr Lynch in such a small body of water a week after he went missing could/would have caused undue distress and suffering for the Lynch family? 

(ii) If Mr Lynch had been found back in December 2015 a more extensive post mortem could have been carried out and the cause of death ascertained?

(iii). Handois Reservoir was apparently a high priority search area?

(iv). Why wasn't Handois re-searched, when further searches of priority areas were carried out in July of this year?

(v) You have (on local "accredited" media) said Handois Reservoir had areas of "hostile terrain." Could you describe what you mean by "hostile terrain?"

5). Have you or will you offer an unreserved apology to the Lynch family?

(i) If not, why not?

6). You said on BBC Radio Jersey that Operation Panama had no budget. Is it usual police practice for such a large-scale investigation not to have an allocated budget?

On Friday 5th August 2016, an article written by Jack Maguire was published in the Jersey Evening Post. The article stated; 

"Handois Reservoir, which acts as a major water treatment works for the Island, is up to 30 metres deep (emphasis added) in places."

Jack Maguire has told Team Voice that he was quoting you when he wrote Handois was "30 metres deep in places." Interestingly he did NOT use quotation marks when allegedly quoting you on this sentence but did on other alleged quotes from you in his article.

7). Did you tell Jack Maguire that Handois Reservoir is "30 metres deep in places?"

(i) If so, why did you tell him that? As we know, at its deepest, Handois is only 4 metres deep.

When challenged by Team Voice regarding your alleged quote (30 metres deep) and the actual depth (4 metres) Mr. Maguire told us it must have been "a slip of the tongue" on your behalf and that you must have meant "30 feet."

(ii) Did you have a "slip of the tongue" and mean to say; "30 feet?"

(iii) If so, would you agree that 30 feet is more than twice the depth of Handois at its deepest and is misleading to the public?

Mr. Maguire has refused to correct this misleading information in his published JEP article telling Team Voice; "it will just confuse matters."

(iv) Did you read the article, and if so, have you asked Mr. Maguire to correct the misleading information? If not why not?

(v) Now that you are aware of the misleading article, will you be asking him to publish a correction, if not why not?

8). You have consistently repeated that the search for Adrian was "thorough and extensive." With hindsight do you believe Handois should have been drained and that; "thorough and extensive" could be perceived as misleading considering it wasn't drained?

(i) Why wasn't it drained?

(ii) How much would it have cost to drain the reservoir in comparison with the £14,000 paid to Humberside Police?

9). The pathologist has reportedly said that the remains of Adrian were consistent with a body that had been immersed in water for "several months." Exactly how many is "several?"

(i) Could Adrian's body have been in the reservoir for less than eight months?

10). Adrian was reportedly in possession of his house keys the night he went missing. Were they recovered with his body?

11) Can you categorically state there was no third party involvement in Adrian's disappearance and untimely death?

We strongly hope that you will answer the questions posed in this e-mail in order to prevent speculation and misreporting of the facts (as in the JEP)?

You will no doubt be aware, through social media, and comments left on "accredited" media sites that there is a fair amount of speculation and little trust/confidence in the way Operation Panama was handled. It is hoped you will answer our questions as full, frankly and honestly, as you can in an effort to curtail speculation/misreporting, and possibly most importantly restore some faith in the island's police force.

We will, in the interest of openness, and transparency, be publishing this e-mail on one of our Blogsites. Please be advised that your answers/reply will be considered for publication also.

We thank you for your time and look forward to you helping us keeping the record straight in this truly tragic turn of events.

N.McMurray/Rico Sorda."(END)

Team Voice DO have many other questions to put to the States of Jersey Police/DS Gull concerning Operation Panama and they will be published, or e-mailed to DS Gull, depending on what response we receive from these questions.

RIP Adrian Lynch.

For related Blogs published by Team Voice on the disappearance/police investigation of Adrian Lynch please click on the labels at the bottom of the posting. Alternatively please click on the links below.

Adrian Lynch still missing. DAY 5.

Adrian Lynch still missing. DAY 7/8

Adrian Lynch still missing. DAY/13/14

Adrian Lynch still missing. DAY 31/32

Adrian Lynch still missing. DAY 35/36

Adrian Lynch THE OFFICIAL LINE QUESTIONED.

Adrian Lynch Investigation. QUESTIONS TO THE STATES OF JERSEY POLICE.

Adrian Lynch UPDATE.

Adrian Lynch SATES OF JERSEY POLICE PRESS RELEASE

Video of Adrian Lynch's Last Reported KNOWN MOVEMENTS.

Adrian Lynch. North Coast SEARCH.

Adrian Lynch Operation Panama CASE CLOSED?

Adrian Lynch. BODY FOUND.

Body Found.

Below is a Press statement issued by the States of Jersey police this morning.

States Of Jersey Police PRESS RELEASE Thursday, 04 August 2016

"At 10:40 today police received a call from a worker at Handois Reservoir, St Lawrence who reported finding the remains of a body partly submerged in the water.

Given the proximity to the last known location of missing Islander Adrian Lynch, Adrian’s family have been updated as to the find but any formal identification is likely to take some time.

Police officers and Crime Scene Investigation are currently at the reservoir and we would request that persons do not attend at that location in order to enable the police to carry out their investigations.

We understand the public interest that this incident will create, but we would ask that islanders respect this request and the family’s privacy at this time.

Further information will be provided as it becomes available."(END)

Our thoughts are with the Lynch family and friends.

For related Blogs published by Team Voice on the disappearance/police investigation of Adrian Lynch please click on the labels at the bottom of the posting. Alternatively please click on the links below.

Adrian Lynch still missing. DAY 5.

Adrian Lynch still missing. DAY 7/8

Adrian Lynch still missing. DAY/13/14

Adrian Lynch still missing. DAY 31/32

Adrian Lynch still missing. DAY 35/36

Adrian Lynch THE OFFICIAL LINE QUESTIONED.

Adrian Lynch Investigation. QUESTIONS TO THE STATES OF JERSEY POLICE.

Adrian Lynch UPDATE.

Adrian Lynch SATES OF JERSEY POLICE PRESS RELEASE

Video of Adrian Lynch's Last Reported KNOWN MOVEMENTS.

Adrian Lynch. North Coast SEARCH.

Adrian Lynch Operation Panama CASE CLOSED?

Adrian Lynch Operation Panama......Case Closed?

DS. Stuart Gull.

In our PREVIOUS POSTING we published a short VIDEO of the five minute drive, to the North Coast, from the last reported alleged movements of missing 20 year old Adrian Lynch. We asked a number of questions concerning the search/investigation (or lack of) concerning Adrian's disappearance.

As a result (of our previous posting) VFC was contacted by local BBC Radio and asked to give an interview where some of our questions could be recorded and put to Senior Investigating Officer DCI Lee Turner. For whatever reason SIO/DCI Turner didn't show for his live interview the following day and Detective Supt Stuart Gull took his place a few days later. (today)

In our previous posting (link above) we wrote; "What exactly are the police doing now to find Adrian? From what we can see......Very little." After DS Gull's performance on the radio this morning (video below) it appears we were right, very little appears to be happening, in the search for this young man Adrian Lynch, who has now been missing for more than seven months.

A number of questions were put to DS Gull, on radio, this morning which he either ignored or pretended to answer them like the media savvy pro that he is. He filibustered his way through the entire interview offering nothing, or very little, in the way of substance. To this end we have offered our own little bits of text/captions through parts of the interview. (Below)

One would have hoped that DS Gull might have seized this opportunity to assure the public, Adrian's parents, family and friends, that the police will not rest until this young man is found and everything possible is being done to generate leads in order to solve this case. Unfortunately this didn't happen.

Adrian's father, and friends, will be out risking their own safety (and possibly lives) again tonight in their fourth expedition searching the North Coast for Adrian. They are having to do this because the police won't. The police won't go outside their own very small search area when, we argue, they should be throwing everything at this and searching the whole island. We're not in the Australian outback, we're a tiny island of 9 miles by 5. DS Gull has said (interview below) that money/budget isn't a factor in this case, so if that's true, start searching outside the tiny search area and put boots on the ground to generate leads.......Island wide.

Former DCO Lenny Harper.

Indeed, Not only did DS Gull say that budget isn't a factor, he said that the Investigation (Operation Panama) doesn't have a budget at all. This is very revealing considering former DCO Lenny Harper has been dragged through the coals for allegedly not having a budget for Operation Rectangle. (Child Abuse Inquiry) How can it be so wrong not to have a budget in one high profile case, yet it's ok in another?

A 20 year old young boy is missing, his parents/family need answers and closure and the public need to have trust and confidence in our police force.

As things stand it looks like if your child goes missing in Jersey the police will look for him/her in a tiny area for a couple/few weeks and then give up. This is NOT acceptable in an affluent modern day "democracy."

If Operation Panama is not closed, then it's doing a very good impression of it.

For related Blogs published by Team Voice on the disappearance/police investigation of Adrian Lynch please click on the labels at the bottom of the posting. Alternatively please click on the links below.

Adrian Lynch still missing. DAY 5.

Adrian Lynch still missing. DAY 7/8

Adrian Lynch still missing. DAY/13/14

Adrian Lynch still missing. DAY 31/32

Adrian Lynch still missing. DAY 35/36

Adrian Lynch THE OFFICIAL LINE QUESTIONED.

Adrian Lynch Investigation. QUESTIONS TO THE STATES OF JERSEY POLICE.

Adrian Lynch UPDATE.

Adrian Lynch SATES OF JERSEY POLICE PRESS RELEASE

Video of Adrian Lynch's Last Reported KNOWN MOVEMENTS.

Adrian Lynch. North Coast SEARCH.

Credit BBC Radio Jersey recording.

Adrian Lynch. North Coast Search.

More than seven months have now past since 20 year old Adrian Lynch went missing after attending a works Christmas Party on 4 December 2015.

In our Previous Posting, in the Adrian Lynch series, we published a short VIDEO reconstructing Adrian's last reported movements according to the States of Jersey Police (SOJP). Despite the SOJP nor the mainstream media not sharing the video online it still attracted in excess of 3,700 Youtube views so thank you to all those who did share it. In that previous Blog Posting we told readers there could be theories other than the one(s) the SOJP is going with.

According to the SOJP'S timeline the last reported alleged movements of Adrian was at 2:15-2:30 am in Cooky's Farm as published HERE. Although it could be disputed that this was indeed Adrian as it was not a sighting. We start the video (below) from this location.

We're asking what if something untoward DID happen to Adrian in this vicinity? What if he was taken by car to the North Coast? How long would it take to drive to the North Coast? (Answer in video below)

Why won't the police search the North Coast? What exactly are the police doing now to find Adrian? From what we can see......Very little.

Which brings us onto the second half of the video (below). Earlier this week VFC joined a search party looking for Adrian on the North Coast. There were around half a dozen friends of the Lynch family, including his father Danny all geared up with protected clothing (due to the unforgiving terrain) with machetes/sickles and the like to make their way through the dense brambles/nettles. VFC was unable to take part in the search but did film parts of it.

The questions going through my mind were "why aren't the cops doing this?" "Why should it be left to well meaning friends/members of the public and Adrian's father to do it?" "Why can't the Honorary Police or the Territorial Army do it if the SOJP won't?"

What if one of the searchers discovered the body of Adrian? What if his own father did? Is he, or they, prepared for this? It's all well and good saying "leave it to the professionals" but the "professionals" are not searching for this young boy who is still missing.

After recent headlines in the MSM telling us that the SOJP, over the next three years, need to cut £5.1m from its budget, which reportedly would include the loss of thirty jobs including up to 13 frontline staff. Is it really the case that the SOJP can't afford to continue the search for Adrian? Is it that they can't afford to actually go out and find their own leads regarding Adrian's disappearance rather than waiting for something to land on their desk(s)?

Of course this is mostly assuming that Adrian is dead; but what if he is still alive, possibly being held against his will? Ok statistically that is unlikely but it is (one could argue) more likely than the statistics that suggest he might have died of hypothermia.

If it is the case that he is alive and waiting for the Cavalry to arrive then the sad news is, there is no Cavalry, or they can't afford to feed the horses. The SOJP MUST come out and inform the public that budget does NOT play a part in the investigation (or lack of) in finding Adrian Lynch. Every parent in Jersey must have the confidence and trust knowing that if anything remotely similar should happen to their child the SOJP has the money, resources, expertise and the willing to actively go out and find their child. I would be interested to learn if the Lynch family, or the General Public, do have that trust/confidence in the SOJP.

Back to the video below and the North Coast search.

These searches have been organised by the father of Adrian Lynch we say "these" searches because we are aware that this was the third one to take place in as many weeks. It has to be said that the dedication, and commitment, of those searching is incredible. These people know they are putting their health and safety at great risk yet they toil away for around three hours a session in the hope of bringing some closure to a family left in the most unimaginable limbo and turmoil. Should they have to be doing this? Certainly not, but who else will?

Adrian's father who has organised these searches, knows he is relying on a massive amount of good will from his friends, but how long can this good will last and what happens when it runs out, who can he, or the family, turn to then? We have demonstrated (links below) that his own Parish Constable, and Deputy, don't appear interested. Indeed NONE of the politicians look to have any interest in this sad case other than St. Helier No.3 Deputy Mike Higgins who, as far as we are aware, is the only politician to have been in contact with Adrian's father, and step mother, and the only politician to meet with them and ask questions in the States.

Seven months this young man, Adrian Lynch, has been missing, and instead of scaling back the manpower, resources and investigation shouldn't the SOJP be scaling them up? Would you expect them to if it was your child and is it simply the case that the SOJP simply can't afford to find Adrian?

For related Blogs published by Team Voice on the disappearance/police investigation of Adrian Lynch please click on the labels at the bottom of the posting. Alternatively please click on the links below.

Adrian Lynch still missing. DAY 5.

Adrian Lynch still missing. DAY 7/8

Adrian Lynch still missing. DAY/13/14

Adrian Lynch still missing. DAY 31/32

Adrian Lynch still missing. DAY 35/36

Adrian Lynch THE OFFICIAL LINE QUESTIONED.

Adrian Lynch Investigation. QUESTIONS TO THE STATES OF JERSEY POLICE.

Adrian Lynch UPDATE.

Adrian Lynch SATES OF JERSEY POLICE PRESS RELEASE

Video of Adrian Lynch's Last Reported KNOWN MOVEMENTS.

Video of Adrian Lynch's Last Reported known Movements.

On the 4th/5th of December 2015 20-year-old Adrian Lynch went missing in Jersey after attending a work's party at the Merton Hotel. Six months later there is still no sign of Adrian despite efforts from the States of Jersey Police, the media, Adrian's parents, family and friends, making numerous appeals for people with any information to come forward.

Wednesday 1st June 2016 it was announced that an anonymous donor has, very generously, offered a £10,000 reward for anybody with information leading to Adrian being found. We understand that this has generated around half a dozen calls from the public to the police. It is unclear as to why the police themselves have/had not offered a reward sooner but we hope after the generosity of this member of the public, and the phone-calls to the police, it will yield some useful information in finding Adrian.

On the 18th May we published the latest timeline of Adrian's last known movements according to the States of Jersey Police. Although there are other theories/timelines which we will explore at a later date for the purpose of this posting we have, to the best of our ability, recreated (on video below) the latest official police version.

The States of Jersey Police, nor the media, (or anybody else to the best of our knowledge) have ever published any kind of a video reconstruction of Adrian's alleged last known movements. Maps of the area where Adrian was last seen, or walked, have been published, and as helpful as that is, if (like me) you are unfamiliar with the area, It's not quite as helpful as it could be.

With that in mind, Team Voice, who have walked the route Adrian is reported to have taken on a number of occasions, decided it would/could be helpful if we were to video the route (below) so people (who are unfamiliar with the area) could see for themselves those areas referred to on the maps published by the States of Jersey Police/Media.

We hope this might jog somebody's memory, people might recognise a road/lane/building that isn't apparent on the published maps, and be able to come forward with any information they might have.

As published on the Reward Poster (above) The States of Jersey Police can be contacted on (01534) 612612 or Crimestoppers can be contacted (anonymously) on 0800-555-111 or alternatively online at crimestoppers.uk.org.

For related Blogs published by Team Voice on the disappearance/police investigation of Adrian Lynch please click on the labels at the bottom of the posting. Alternatively please click on the links below.

Adrian Lynch still missing. DAY 5.

Adrian Lynch still missing. DAY 7/8

Adrian Lynch still missing. DAY/13/14

Adrian Lynch still missing. DAY 31/32

Adrian Lynch still missing. DAY 35/36

Adrian Lynch THE OFFICIAL LINE QUESTIONED.

Adrian Lynch Investigation. QUESTIONS TO THE STATES OF JERSEY POLICE.

Adrian Lynch UPDATE.

Adrian Lynch SATES OF JERSEY POLICE PRESS RELEASE

Adrian Lynch. States of Jersey Police Press Release.

Below is the latest Press Release issued by the States of Jersey Police (SOJP) concerning the search, and investigation, into the disappearance of 20 year-old Adrian Lynch who went missing on 4th/5th December 2015 after attending a work's Christmas Party at the Merton Hotel.

SOJP Press Release.

Adrian Lynch - Answering Your Questions.

Introduction

A lot of information has circulated regarding Adrian’s disappearance and the investigation, both factual and false. A number of recurring themes of questioning have also appeared via traditional and social media forums and this overview is intended to publicly inform and consolidate on the current status. The States of Jersey Police (SoJP) have been open and transparent in the information they have provided to the public and recognise the benefit in providing a comprehensive update.

Adrian’s clothing and items

On the night of his disappearance, Adrian was wearing a blue River Island two piece suit, brown belt, white shirt, white t-shirt and black slip-on shoes. He was believed to be in possession of his passport for proof of age purposes, having recently lost his driving license and he would have had two keys on a single ring with no fob – one a key to a Ford Fiesta, and the other an ordinary Yale door key. He also wore a white and yellow gold signet ring encrusted with a diamond.

Adrian’s movements

Adrian had spent the evening of Friday 4th December 2015 at a combined electrical contractors’ Christmas function at the Merton Hotel. He had consumed a quantity of alcohol and was intoxicated. A colleague arranged for a taxi to collect and take him home, and Adrian left by taxi at about ten minutes to midnight. It is believed that a misunderstanding over the address however led to Adrian being dropped off at the junction of La Rue and La Ruette D’Avranches (halfway between the Six Rues and Carrefour Selous junctions) with Adrian indicating he lived very close nearby. He was actually over a kilometre south of his home address.

He had his phone and wallet in his hand as he got out of the taxi, and these were located the following morning on the road surface in La Ruette just a few metres away from where he got out of the taxi. Although there was no cash in the wallet it is believed that Adrian had spent the cash he had earlier withdrawn from an ATM at the function, and used the remaining £3 to top up the amount his colleague had given the taxi driver when he collected Adrian at the hotel. Due to the positioning of the phone and the wallet, it is believed that he may have sat down for a while on the road surface placing these items down, but inadvertently leaving them behind when he moved off.

Adrian was dropped off at around five minutes past midnight. The following is a chronology of movements of who we believe to be Adrian over the next two or so hours. Times in some cases are approximate based upon witnesses’ best recollection, and references to “Adrian” are based upon a belief that this is indeed Adrian from references to description.

00:15 and 00:35 – a number of sightings of Adrian in the vicinity of the Carrefour Selous junction with La Grande Route de St Laurent. All are indicative of a state of intoxication ranging from unsteady walking to lying in the road.

01:00 – a report of a male shouting and swearing in La Rue de la Golarde, and very shortly after a male fitting Adrian’s description walking east along this lane.

01:05 – Adrian walks into a house in La Rue de la Golarde, occupants are still awake and in the lounge and question his presence before he leaves and is then seen walking west along Rue de la Golarde. Adrian is polite and appeared to have mud on his trousers.

01:40 – 01:45 – a householder in Le Passage hears a voice at the front of his house and on checking sees Adrian sitting on his wall, there was no-one else around. The householder enquired as to what he was doing and if he was ok. Adrian apologises for disturbing him and leaves heading west along Le Passage. At around this time (believed very shortly afterwards) a taxi driver passes Adrian in the lane who is however now walking east towards the junction with La Grande Route de St Laurent.

02:00 – Adrian is seen walking northwards on La Grande Route de St Laurent near to the junction with La Fraide Rue.

02:00 – someone is heard shouting and swearing on the s-bend near Bon Air Stables, and a person believed to be Adrian is seen walking northwards.

02:09 – CCTV at the Thistlegrove site captures Adrian walking north past the entrance, and then entering the yard at the front of Regal, before disappearing down the side of Regal. He re-emerges a few minutes later and is seen to walk south back past Thistlegrove at 02:17.

02:15 – 02:30 – a resident whose house backs onto the vehicular track leading south from La Rue de la Golarde into the Cooke’s Roses Farm complex hears their young child crying seemingly as they have been disturbed from sleep by someone shouting. It is very possible Adrian was walking back towards the very area he had started from, perhaps searching for his phone and wallet.

Adrian’s belt

Adrian’s belt was located on the Saturday by a householder in his garden in Le Passage, near to the boundary with Cooke’s Roses Farm. It was loosely coiled. A friend of Adrian has said that Adrian occasionally removed his belt and carried it in a coiled fashion. It is believed that at some point Adrian had removed and was carrying his belt. It is possible that he dropped or placed this when either leaving or entering the garden near to the Cooke’s Roses Farm complex, possibly at around 02:30 if the last report of hearing shouting related to Adrian passing southwards through the site.

Saturday 5th to Monday 7th December 2015

Contact was made by the finder of Adrian’s wallet and phone with Adrian’s family on the Saturday morning, and the family started their own enquiries before reporting Adrian missing in the early afternoon. An early assessment of the circumstances prioritised Adrian as a high risk missing person and enquiries initiated. Searching was carried out well into the night.

A multi-agency meeting involving representatives from a number of agencies was held at 07:00 on the Sunday and searching continued throughout the day and into the night, under the coordination of a trained police search advisor. One of the challenges that searchers faced that weekend and in the days and weeks that followed was the relative brevity of daylight hours, although searching into the night continued when it was considered conceivable that Adrian may still be alive.

On the Monday a decision to set up a major investigation room was taken, and a command structure to support the multi-agency working established. Use of the UK HOLMES major investigation computer system for recording and tracking data and lines of enquiry was also established. Although a missing person enquiry, the investigation room, team structure and processes mirrored that used nationally for major enquiries, whether crime related or not. The investigation started with regard to all possibilities, and has remained as such.

This had been declared as a critical incident and a command structure put in place to ensure strategic and tactical requirements were recognised and responded to. A Gold / Silver / Bronze terminology is applied nationally across the emergency services to major incidents, and Detective Superintendent Stewart Gull assumed the role of the “Gold Commander” which he still retains. Detective Chief Inspector Lee Turner who had been involved since the Sunday morning was designated as the Senior Investigating Officer (SIO) over-seeing Detective Inspector Steve Langford as the “Silver” for investigation and Inspector Tim Barnes as the SoJP “Silver” for the multi-agency searching.

The search

From Sunday 6th to Tuesday 22nd December representatives from ten agencies were used daily in coordinated searching. They were spread across a total of 28 designated zones covering about 12 square kilometres in total, as seen on the map below. There were typically between 30 and 60 searchers deployed on any one day, the management and coordination of which required significant effort and monitoring. The search zones were designated according to the information picture that was developing as the enquiry progressed, and centred on those areas that featured in the reported sightings of Adrian as well as the potential directions he may have travelled in.

1 km radius (2 km diameter) circular zones of higher priority were established, centring on Adrian’s last known location (taxi drop off / belt recovery area) and the furthest believed movement indicated (Thistlegrove / Bon Air stables area). Such zones were also based on input from national search advice, and a National Search Advisor from the College of Policing worked in the island for a few days with search management in December.

The support of the public was and has been significant and careful ongoing consideration was given from the outset on Sunday 6th December and throughout the active search phases to using members of the public in support of coordinated searching, working alongside agency personnel. During this critical phase of the searching, it was assessed that there were sufficient resources for the task in hand. To involve the public in this coordinated way would have placed an unnecessary burden and additional risk on the overall coordinated search. This decision was strongly endorsed by a National Search Advisor from the College of Policing in the early stages.

There are a number of water sites in the general area ranging from garden ponds to the Handois and Dannemarche reservoirs. A number of these aspects could be and were covered by trained Fire and Rescue officers and divers from TTS. Other more challenging aspects were reviewed and where applicable covered by sonar specialists from Humberside Police.

Specialist victim recovery dogs were also utilised over two phases in December and January in areas assessed to require particular attention, or which presented significant challenges to other search methods. These dogs are trained to find deceased people, unlike the more general purpose police dogs which are used by SoJP who are trained to locate the living. As with any search assets, although highly trained these dogs are not infallible and require focus – this is directed and monitored by trained handlers, and will on occasion be restricted by environmental conditions such as wind direction.

A drone used by trained Fire and Rescue personnel was also deployed and viewing of footage monitored and examined over a number of days in support of other methods. This covered a total of about 12 hours flying time and covering a total distance of some 80,000 metres.

With regard to the possibility that Adrian may have been involved in a road traffic collision (RTC), additional and focused search attention was also paid to road surfaces and boundaries (extending up to 10 metres either side of the road surface) inside and out of the 1 km higher priority zones, not only for Adrian but for any debris or item that may have been discarded or flung upon any impact (which is common). Unsurprisingly, debris from what are believed to be minor historic collisions was located, but nothing of apparent relevance to Adrian’s disappearance.

Several thousand personnel hours in total were used in searching the designated areas, both before and after Christmas. There was and remains no information on which to base extending such parameters other than simply extending outwards in all directions which would not only require an exponentially growing resourcing requirement, but would also depend upon the consent of private property owners in circumstances where there would be little or no rationale to request or expect this. In short, in the absence of any more specific information, further searching is simply considered unviable.

Further searching for example in the central Carrefour Selous area was conducted in January based on a hypothesis arising from the last indication of Adrian’s presence in the Cooke’s Roses Farm area at 02:15 – 02:30.

This position has been supplemented by repeated requests for land and property owners to check their own areas outside of these zones, to use employees to assist on commercial and agricultural sites and to call the police for assistance if for example; the infirm or restricted are unable to thoroughly check property and outbuildings.

Difficult decisions such as those involving the parameters of extended searches have to be made, but as with all aspects of major investigations the practical implications are such that parameters have to be applied based on rationale, and the Senior Investigating Officer making such decisions rightly remains accountable for these.

The northern boundary areas around St John’s Village were based on earlier indications of Adrian’s direction of travel from the taxi drop off and the direction of his home address. The absence of any sightings past these areas limited the extent of these zones; however, the north coast has featured in search activity, including the Channel Islands Air Search plane, and also by the States of Jersey Fire & Rescue Service and other assets based on reports of possible relevance. Other areas have also received search attention in response to other possibly related pieces of information that were received.

An internal review of all search documentation is being carried out in order to establish the necessity for any revisits.

Hypotheses and lines of enquiry

A number of hypotheses were established by the SIO in the early phase of the investigation, falling within the three main nationally recognised categories of missing people:

1. Lost person – a person who is temporarily disorientated and would wish to be found;

2. Voluntary missing person – a person who has control over their own action but has decided on a particular course of action eg wishes to leave home or self-harm;

3. Missing person under the influence of a third party – relating to someone who has gone missing against their will eg abduction or murder victim.

The hypotheses established, form the basis of documented investigative strategies, which themselves drive principle lines of enquiry. The investigation has remained open-minded to all possibilities including criminal and third party involvement, but to date it remains that there is no credible information indicative of a crime. Such is Adrian’s apparent disorientation, intoxication and vulnerability that night, some form of misadventure is still considered the most probable eventuality, but other possibilities have never been ruled out.

Before clarification was obtained as to why Adrian might have taken off his belt, an explanation was considered that he might have been experiencing the onset of hypothermia. As bizarre as it might appear, undressing in some cases of hypothermia can occur although no further items of Adrian’s clothing have yet been discovered. Another reaction can be a form of hibernation-like activity in terms of deliberate and tight self-concealment, and this has not been ruled out. Although it was a relatively mild and dry night, Adrian was not dressed to remain outside overnight, and this combined with intoxication leading to increased cooling of skin surfaces could possibly have created physiological hypothermic reactions. This is only a possibility however and cannot be determined with any certainty such are the variables involved, but consultation with a Home Office pathologist has taken place in this regard and cannot be entirely ruled out. Contrary to what might be thought, it does not need to be bitterly cold for hypothermia to occur.

The structure of the investigation is such that any turn of events can be accommodated and catered for. Although this is a missing person investigation open to all possibilities, a murder investigation would follow a similar structure but its strategic direction would be influenced by those aspects indicative of a murder having taken place, eg discovery of a body in such circumstances or credible information that this was indeed the case. It is not a matter of switching from a missing person enquiry to a murder investigation simply because a period of time has elapsed without discovery.

Whether a missing person or a murder investigation, both seek to identify sources of intelligence, information and evidence in order to establish what has happened. This is why reference has been made to terminology such as “witness strategy” and “house to house enquiries” which would be expected in murder investigations, but have also been used in this investigation in order to identify and capitalise on information opportunities. As an example, witness strategy included written appeals in foreign languages placed in public areas and delivered to farms in the central parishes. A house to house zone was designated covering the routes Adrian is known to have taken, and may have proceeded to take, covering over 300 properties and over 500 residents, all of whom identified and spoken with.

A range of other lines of enquiry cover issues such as forensics, family liaison, passive data opportunities including CCTV from 18 sites, vehicle damage, and importantly the media.

Over 1,000 people have been spoken with during the investigation, over 250 witness statements recorded and over 560 investigative actions generated over and above the search activity described.

At the end of January a National Missing Persons Advisor and a National Senior Investigating Officer Advisor from the National Crime Agency visited and undertook a review of the structure, hypotheses and basis for the lines of enquiry being generated. As with any form of review in any field, a number of recommendations were made, gratefully received and duly considered and acted upon to varying degrees with regard to the local context and ongoing developments in the information picture. Support and further recommendations were also provided following this, by an NCA National Search Advisor in addition to those given before Christmas by the College of Policing.

The media

There have been over 30 media releases since the investigation began and a number of interviews with DCI Turner and D/Supt Gull. The outreach to an immensely supportive community wanting to help the police and Adrian’s family has been significant. There have for example been 14,122 YouTube hits on the Thistlegrove CCTV images.

A number of appeals for information have been made, including for a number of people who might have seen Adrian or something of possible relevance to come forward. Despite repeated appeals, a number of persons remain outstanding – these are people who very possibly might simply have seen or heard something of interest, however insignificant or irrelevant this might appear to them to be.

1. The occupants of a silver car (possibly a VW or Citroen Saxo) parked outside David Hicks at about 23:00;


2. Two persons with a motorcycle at the junction of Le Neuf Chemin and St Lawrence main road (just north of the entrance to St John’s Manor) at about midnight;


3. A male with a dark pullover hitchhiking up Mont Felard at about half past midnight;


4. A male in a mustard coloured suit walking north past Regal at about 01:15-01:30;


5. A taxi moving south past Thistlegrove at 02:33;


6. A male with white hair hitchhiking south at about 03:00 in the Three Oaks area;


7. Two males hitchhiking north at about 03:00 in the area of Steven Cohu antiques

In addition to this, despite a number of requests and other enquiries, it cannot be confirmed that all persons either in, passing into or out of the area at the relevant time have been identified. The CCTV at Thistlegrove identifies a number of vehicles passing in both directions throughout the night but makes and models are not distinguishable – we believe most have been identified but not all.

Current Position

The investigation will not be concluded until Adrian is found and the circumstances of his disappearance established as far as is possible. Maintaining a resourced investigation room and team however is only appropriate whilst there are feasible lines of enquiry to investigate, and these are not infinite. Adrian remains missing and SoJP will continue to consider any potential for fresh investigative leads and monitor any new intelligence or information, and remain ready and willing to resource and respond appropriately to any such developments.

This has been a unique and unprecedented missing person enquiry for Jersey. Whilst the States of Jersey Police will continue to keep an open mind as to any eventuality in respect of Adrian’s disappearance as set out as above, as difficult as it may be to comprehend on a small island, indications are that Adrian simply remains missing by misadventure. This has been an open and transparent investigation, and for as long as Adrian remains missing the Police remain committed to finding him.(END)

Credit SOJP.

For related Blogs published by Team Voice on the disappearance/police investigation of Adrian Lynch please click on the labels at the bottom of the posting. Alternatively please click on the links below.

Adrian Lynch still missing. DAY .

Adrian Lynch still missing. DAY 7/8

Adrian Lynch still missing. DAY/13/14

Adrian Lynch still missing. DAY 31/32

Adrian Lynch still missing. DAY 35/36

Adrian Lynch THE OFFICIAL LINE QUESTIONED.

Adrian Lynch Investigation. QUESTIONS TO THE STATES OF JERSEY POLICE.

Adrian Lynch UPDATE.