In late April 2023, remains were found in a field in Sutton-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire, UK.

An investigation was launched in May and the remains were identified as those of Alfred Swinscoe, a father of 6 children. Police believe he was killed and buried in land about four to six-foot deep.

Nottinghamshire Police said officers were contacted by Russell Lowbridge who was 4 years old when his grandfather went missing in “mysterious and unusual circumstances”. Lowbridge and his father (Swinscoe’s son) were matched against the remains for identification. He is believed to have been murdered due to trauma to parts of the skeleton that were found.

Disappearance

Swinscoe was 54 when he went missing, living in the village of Pinxton in Derbyshire at the time. He worked at Langton Colliery as a “cutter”, someone who cuts large chunks of coal out of the coal face for others to break down. He had hte nickname “Sparrow” and was knowng as the “Champion Pigeon Man of Pinxton”, due to his love of pigeon racing.

He was last seen at the Pinxton Miners Arms, a pub that was popular with miners before it was closed and converted to a house. It’s located a short drive from where his remains were found. It’s believed he was drinking with 2 sons and a friend on the night of his disappearance. He was last seen giving money to son Gary to buy a round of drinks and then left to use the outside toilet.

Investigation

Swinscoe’s disappearance “tormented” his son Gary, who sadly passed away in 2012, never knowing what happened to his dad. Gary remembered his dad giving him some money to get a round and then never seeing him again.

His daughter, Julie, was 25 at the time and working in a factory. She remembers coming home one day and the police were searching for her dad. She says, “We never expected that the remains found in Sutton would be him. I practically went hysterical. I said: 'he can’t have lay in that field for 56 years and no-one could find him until now…I would like to think I could die knowing the truth. I am 82 now and I could go myself at any time.” Picture of Russell Lowbridge and Julie.

Four of his six children are still alive, as well as many grandchildren. The investigation is ongoing on the clothes found with the remains, as well as testing to find out how he was killed and how long he’d been buried for.

Assistant Chief Constable Rob Griffin said: “I cannot imagine how distressing this must have been for Alfred’s family who have been waiting 56 years for answers…Some of Alfred’s family members are no longer alive and will have died never knowing what happened to their loved one that night…Despite this being a crime that happened more than 50 years ago, this will not stop us from using all the investigative skills at our disposal to find those responsible.”

Police said further tests were being carried out to determine how Mr Swinscoe was killed and how long he had been buried.

Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-nottinghamshire-65842590