Sunday, June 21

Relatives, friends and members of the public have volunteered to join Essex Police officers today, Sunday June 21, in a further large-scale search for missing Chris May.

Dozens of people have already offered to assist officers in extending the search areas around the hamlet of Fairstead where Chris’s car was found abandoned on Monday, May 25.

Any volunteers must attend a briefing at police HQ , Chelmsford at 10am, to be registered.

Volunteers are asked to park at the Sports and Social Club car park, off St Margaret’s Road, CM2 6DS where staff will take you to the briefing location.

Volunteers will responsible for their own safety, should bring appropriate walking and weather gear, sun cream and carry a mobile phone.

Children, ill or infirm people and dogs will unfortunately not be allowed to be involved in the search.

Police have advised volunteers to bring food and drink to cover lunch and make sure you are fit and not under the influence of drink or drugs.

Once briefed, police will run a shuttle bus service to take the volunteer teams to the search areas.

DI Anne Cameron said: "We welcome family, friends and members of the public to help in the search but their safety is foremost in our minds that’s why we would ask them to attend the briefing. It is also imperative that they stay with their search leaders to ensure search areas are not overlooked.”

Once the tasked search area has been completed, the volunteers will be returned to the briefing area for a debrief and to enable them to travel home.
 

Friday, June 19

Detectives searching for missing Chris May from Kelvedon have revealed they are looking for the author of a letter which suggests Chris has come to harm.

A letter was delivered to Witham police station on June 1, having been sent via Royal Mail.

This letter stated that Chris had been the victim of an assault which had led to his death.

DCI Marina Ericson, leading the investigation in to Chris’ disappearance, said: "My enquiries surrounding this letter have unfortunately not been able to determine its author.

"I have been able to establish that some of the content is inaccurate but the author may have vital information which could help my team establish what has happened to Chris.

"The more time that passes since Chris was last seen the greater chance there is that he is no longer alive and has come to harm."

The letter was posted inside a white envelope.

Detectives are looking to trace the author or anyone else with knowledge of this letter.

Chris, 28, from St Mary’s Road, Kelvedon, was last seen on Monday, May 25, and his car abandoned in Troys Chase, Fairstead, at 11.30am that morning.

Extensive enquiries have so far been unable to establish what happened to Chris after his car was left in Fairstead.

Contact the investigation team on 101 or email scdappeals@essex.pnn.police.uk.

 

UPDATE, Friday 4pm

The detective leading the investigation into Chris May’s disappearance says she is treating it as a "murder with no body."

DCI Marina Ericson of Essex Police said a letter being handed into Witham police station on June 1 "ramped up" the search for Mr May but murder was just one of the options she was looking into.

Chris May, 28, disappeared after visiting his dad in Mount Road, Coggeshall, on May 25 and his silver VW Golf was found abandoned near woodland in Troys Chase, Fairstead, two days later.

There have since been no sightings of Mr May, of St Mary’s Road, Kelvedon, and police revealed yesterday a letter was handed into Witham police station claiming he had been killed in an assault.

The focus of the investigation is now on finding the author of the letter and ascertaining the truth in what it says.

Contact the investigation team on 101 or email scdappeals@essex.pnn.police.uk.