Detectives at Cumbria Police have launched a murder investigation following the disappearance of missing Annan man, Paul Taylor.
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 17th October. 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 17th October, from 9:45pm onwards, we need to hear from you.
“Paul was driving a blue Corsa, reg: 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 17th-18th October, before being found in Langwathby on the morning of Thursday 19th October. 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.”
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. We ask that they are given privacy as they come to terms with this news.
Timeline
Paul was last seen on Tuesday 17th October after leaving his home address in Annan, Scotland sometime after 9.45pm.
Police know Paul’s car travelled towards Carlisle shortly before midnight on 17th 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, is then found abandoned in Langwathby at around 8:45am on Thursday 19th October.
Anyone with information or who may have seen Paul’s car in the locations above, is asked to contact us 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
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