Corrie McKeague - Second search phase complete

Police have completed the search of a second area at the Milton landfill site as part of their inquiry to find Corrie McKeague.

Police have completed the search of a second area at the Milton landfill site as part of their inquiry to find Corrie McKeague.

The search of an extended area of Cell 22 began on October 23, 2017.

Although the data available indicated this was the next most likely area where Corrie might be found following the original 20-week search of the cell earlier this year, there was no trace of him.

Police are content Corrie is not in the landfill areas which have now been searched.

The inquiry team has identified all the other possible locations where waste has been deposited from the area in Bury St Edmunds known as the ‘horseshoe’ and there are no further realistic search opportunities at this time.

As previously stated, the nature of waste disposal and its movement is not an exact science.

The primary hypothesis - that Corrie ended up in the waste disposal process - was endorsed by a review of the investigation undertaken by the East Midlands Special Operations Unit (EMSOU).

The EMSOU officers who conducted the review were given access to all of the information they needed to conduct a thorough review, including all of the witness statements.

Following the conclusion of the landfill search site today the investigation into Corrie’s disappearance on September 24, 2016, will continue.

He was last seen on CCTV entering a loading bay in the ‘horseshoe’ following a night out.

CCTV in Bury St Edmunds town centre has already been viewed up to 4pm on 24th September 2016 and Corrie has not been seen to leave.

However, we will continue to scrutinise the other theories in order to try to establish and understand what may have happened to Corrie.

Detective Superintendent Katie Elliott said: "We are still committed to continuing with the inquiry. There are a number of other theories about what could have happened to Corrie and we are continuing to test the evidence to help us understand what happened to Corrie, which will assist in providing answers to his family.

"We feel it is important to explain to the family what we are doing, so they have the opportunity to understand and question what we have done, and why we have done it.

"We are acutely aware of the immense strain the last 15 months has placed upon Corrie’s loved ones. We want them to be confident we are doing everything that it is practical for us to do as we strive to find Corrie.”

Suffolk Constabulary would like to thank FCC Environment, owner of the Milton landfill site, for its support and co-operation during the inquiry.

The total amount searched in this second phase of the search was 2,867.5 tonnes.

Statement from Martin McKeague – Dec 2017

The McKeague family would like to extend its heartfelt appreciation and our lifelong debt of gratitude to the Norfolk and Suffolk police forces, the Major Investigation Team (MIT), the multitude of Police volunteers who worked tirelessly at the Milton landfill site, the Site Owners, the Jones Brothers Excavation team, the wonderful people of Suffolk and the surrounding areas for their support and efforts and everyone closer to home who have stood up and stood by us, and allowed us to get through the darkest moments of this horrific event.

This family would have been lost without all of you and we have been humbled by your support and concern.

This has been our sentiment from the beginning of this search and it will continue until the end.

The Mckeague Family

Statement from Nicola Urquhart – Dec 2017
 

Today sees the conclusion of the search of cell 22 at Milton landfill.

From the first day that myself, Makeyan and Darroch stood in the horseshoe and saw the industrial bins, we have consistently asked for that line of enquiry (theory) to be investigated and ruled out.

We have continually asked for this to happen, not because we have ever truly believed Corrie was in There, but it has always been the simpilist explanation as to what may have happened to Corrie.

There are many things I can do to help in the search to find Corrie but I have always known that searching the landfill was and would never be something I could or would be allowed to do myself.

That would have left us in the torturous situation of left imagining that Corrie may have just been left there. Once all other lines of enquiry are exhausted if this didn't find Corrie, I don't think as a mother I could ever come to terms with not knowing if Corrie was in that landfill.

Our gratitude to Suffolk and Norfolk MIT for following this line of enquiry to what is most certainly beyond reasonable levels is unwavering.

This is the first time in this investigation I have been updated and completely agree that nothing else can be done in relation to searching cell 22.

The search team, have carried out an extremely physical and emotional task. I would hope that the invaluable knowledge they have now gained can be used with other forces should any other family find themselves in our position.

I know how hard they have tried to find Corrie and we will never be able to thank them enough for their efforts.
What I can say, is, my complete trust in Vince and his team leaves me certain that had Corrie been in that landfill, they would have found him.

The peace of mind they have given me is immeasurable. I will no longer picture my son in that landfill.

I have been assured that I will now be given updates as to what lines of enquiry have been investigated already and that these along with any thing else that is a reasonable line of enquiry will now be tested again or investigated.

The investigation to find Corrie is still very much a live investigation, we are still a very long way off saying that all that can be done has.

From the start, we have said. Corrie is still in the area, left on foot or left on a vehicle.
We now know Corrie is not in the landfill.

Thank you
Nicola, Makeyan, Corrie and Darroch x x x x