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Murder

Unsolved Murder of Ray Shearwood: Police Renew Investigation 18 Years Later

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Ray Shearwood, a 41-year-old father of three, vanished without a trace on August 19, 2007, after spending the morning with his eight-year-old daughter. Despite a decade-long investigation and several public appeals, no substantial leads have emerged, leading detectives to believe he was murdered. The case remains unsolved, with police now renewing their efforts to bring those responsible to justice.

Key Takeaways:

  • Ray Shearwood, a convicted drug dealer and money launderer, was last seen walking towards a parked Volkswagen Golf in the Alt Park pub car park in Maghull, Sefton, on August 19, 2007.
  • He had links to Liverpool's criminal underworld and was suspected of being killed over an unpaid drug debt, with one line of inquiry pointing to a gang involved in international drug crime.
  • Shearwood served 16 months in prison for conspiracy to supply drugs, money laundering, and tax evasion before being released in November 2006.
  • His mobile phone, which he carried at all times, has never been used again since his disappearance.
  • Detectives treating the investigation as a murder inquiry rather than a missing-from-home case.
  • The police are appealing for anyone who may have seen Ray or have information about his disappearance to come forward.

Statistics:

  • 18 years have passed since Ray Shearwood's disappearance
  • 2007: The year of Ray's disappearance
  • 2005: The year Ray was jailed for conspiracy to supply drugs, money laundering, and tax evasion
  • 2002-2003: The period during which Ray earned around £250,000 from prizefighting
  • 16 months: The length of Ray's prison sentence for conspiracy to supply drugs, money laundering, and tax evasion
  • 9 months: Time between Ray's release from prison in November 2006 and his disappearance in August 2007
  • 1: The number of green Ford Mondeo registration VK02 BHA seen parked in the Alt pub car park on the day of Ray's disappearance
  • 1: The number of Volkswagen Golf sports edition vehicles seen parked in the Alt pub car park on the day of Ray's disappearance

Sources:

  • Manchester Evening News
  • Howard Rubbery, Head of the Serious Crime Review Unit
  • https://crimestoppers-uk.org (for reporting information anonymously)

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