Four people have been arrested as the hunt for a missing man in Cumbria has now turned into a murder investigation.
Detectives from Cumbria Police announced this evening that a probe into the disappearance of Paul Taylor, 57, from Annan, is now a murder investigation due to new information coming to light.
Officers have today arrested two 19-year-old men, from the Carlisle area on suspicion of murder. They remain in police custody.
A 37-year-old man from Carlisle and a 17-year-old boy, from Appleby, have also been arrested today on suspicion of assisting an offender. They remain in police custody.
Paul’s family are currently being supported by family liaison officers and have been informed of the change in the nature of the investigation.
Police are asking people to give the family privacy as they come to terms with this news.
Detective Chief Superintendent Dave Pattinson said: “We have been working round the clock to try and find Paul since he was last seen on Tuesday October 17.
“As the investigation has developed, and due to new information we have received, we are now treating the disappearance of Paul Taylor as a murder investigation.
“We are still requesting the assistance of the public to provide any information to us which may assist police, so we can understand the circumstances and events of what has happened.
“If you knew or spoke to Paul, in the weeks or months leading up to his disappearance or saw him or his car as he travelled from Annan to Carlisle on Tuesday October 17, from 9.45pm onwards, we need to hear from you.
“Paul was driving a blue Corsa, registration PY18 DYO, which detectives believe made it to the Yewdale, Sandsfield Park and Brough Road areas in Carlisle on the night/early morning of the 17 – 18 October, before being found in Langwathby on the morning of Thursday October 19. If you saw this car – please contact us.
“If you think you have any information that may help, please call 101 or report it to us. If you would prefer to remain anonymous and give information to us without giving your name or details, you can contact Crimestoppers, an independent charity who take crime information anonymously.
“Don’t worry if you think the information is not important or may not be significant, it could be vital to help us establish what has happened to Paul and give his family the answers they deserve.”
Paul was officially last seen on October 17 after leaving his home address in Annan, Scotland sometime after 9.45pm.
Police know Paul’s car travelled towards Carlisle shortly before midnight on October 17 via the M6 Southbound.
Police believe the car then headed in the direction of the Kingmoor South area of Carlisle at around 11.35pm and also the Carlisle West area.
There are then potential sightings of the car in the Yewdale, Sandsfield Park and Brough Road areas after this period and officers believe he could have travelled in or around these locations. However, police are still conducting number of enquiries to narrow down the route he took.
His car, a blue Vauxhall Corsa, was then found abandoned in Langwathby at around 8:45am on Thursday October 19.
Anyone with information or who may have seen Paul’s car in the locations above, is asked to contact police on any of the following methods:
- Contact police by calling 101 or visiting www.cumbria.police.uk
- Information can also be sent online: https://mipp.police.uk/operation/0301020119S66-PO1
- CCTV / dashcam footage can be uploaded here: https://mipp.police.uk/operation/0301020119S66-PO1
- Information can be given anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or www.crimestoppers-uk.org
