Teenager Leah Croucher tried to defend herself utilizing martial arts from a convicted baby intercourse offender who sexually assaulted and killed her earlier than dismembering her physique, an inquest has heard.
Leah, who was lacking for nearly 4 years, was discovered useless within the loft of a home nearly 4 years after her disappearance on February 15 2019, whereas strolling to work on Buzzacott Lane, Furzton, Milton Keynes.
The 19-year-old was later found within the loft of a home simply 10 minutes away on October 10 2022, after a upkeep man went to research the reason for a foul scent.
A police superintendent revealed that it was believed famend martial arts knowledgeable Leah had tried to defend herself after being sexually attacked by Neil Maxwell.
Maxwell, 49, had a ‘predilection for younger females’ and was being hunted by police on the time Leah went lacking. Officers even had a tip off about Maxwell however concluded there was no hyperlink between him and Leah.
Leah Croucher disappeared on February 15 2019, whereas strolling to work on Buzzacott Lane, Furzton, Milton Keynes,
Neil Maxwell, 49, was a convicted baby intercourse offender who killed himself someday after Leah’s dying in 2019
Milton Keynes coroner’s court docket heard police had carried out an ‘unprecedented’ investigation for the Thames Valley space.
Detective Superintendent Kevin Brown instructed the inquest the probe had concerned looking 3,500 homes, finishing up 1,500 traces of inquiry, analyzing 1,200 paperwork, 1,600 messages and taking 500 statements.
The identify of Maxwell got here up in Might 2019 after a member of the general public known as as much as present info, however officers concluded there was no hyperlink between him and Leah, DSI Brown stated.
However on Monday October 10 2022, the investigation lastly discovered Leah after receiving a name from a person doing upkeep work.
‘He was making an attempt to eradicate a scent from the property, which took him into the loft space the place he found what he thought had been human stays’, DSI Brown stated.
The homeowners of the ‘unremarkable’ four-bedroom semi-detached home in Loxbeare Drive, Furzton, lived overseas and used the property as a vacation house, however had not returned for the reason that Covid pandemic broke out in early 2020, the officer stated.
Tom Osborne, Senior Coroner for Milton Keynes, instructed the inquest: ‘Whoever had positioned the physique within the loft had taken steps to attempt to take away sure limbs. They had been in plastic baggage.’
On Monday October 10 2022, the investigation lastly discovered Leah after receiving a name from a person doing upkeep work on the property
Leah was noticed on CCTV footage on the morning she was final seen earlier than disappearing and not using a hint
Leah was recognized from dental data and a submit mortem examination and a specialist bone pathologist was unable to establish a reason for dying.
The court docket heard Maxwell – who had been on the property and, as a upkeep man, was the one particular person to have keys – was later discovered useless elsewhere in Milton Keynes in 2019.
He had dedicated suicide and died from hanging.
DSI Brown stated he was ‘completely’ positive Maxwell had killed Leah and stated he would have pressed for the Crown Prosecution Service to cost him with homicide or manslaughter if he had been alive.
‘He was an offender who had a predilection for younger females and every so often older females. He would trigger them to endure some type of sexual violence. He was a repeat offender’.
Answering questions from a lawyer for Leah’s household, DSI Brown stated the investigation had taken into consideration that the younger lady was an internationally regarded martial arts black belt.
‘I imagine that is prone to be an unwarranted sexual assault on Leah and due to her martial arts functionality, she reacted and principally I imagine she would have defended herself. That will have escalated the scenario’.
Leah’s father was a taekwondo teacher and the 19-year-old was so proficient on the sport that she had competed internationally.
Thames Valley Police had performed an intensive seek for Leah and her dad and mom had issued quite a few pleas for info and a £5,000 reward had been supplied for something that would result in her being discovered.
Her distraught brother had even taken his personal life after revealing he was struggling to deal with her disappearance.
Leah’s disappearance turned a double-tragedy when her brother, Haydon Croucher, killed himself after telling a therapist he was discovering it tough to manage
Leah’s stays had been discovered three years later within the attic of an unoccupied home in Milton Keynes the place Maxwell labored as a handyman – which she could have handed on her path to work
Leah Croucher, 19, was final seen making her method into work in Milton Keynes in February 2019
Maxwell had been on the run from police in reference to a sexual assault in Newport Pagnell in November 2018.
Thames Valley Police had stated three folks had reported potential sightings of Leah Croucher close to Furzton Lake later within the morning on the day she disappeared.
Ms Croucher’s household launched emotional pleas to the general public and a £5,000 reward was supplied for any info which may result in her being discovered.
The officer answerable for the search, Chief Inspector Neil Kentish, had stated throughout the search that his officers had ‘by no means handled a case like this earlier than’, including it was ‘extraordinarily uncommon for somebody to go lacking with out leaving a hint’.
Leah’s disappearance turned a double-tragedy when her brother, Haydon Croucher, killed himself after telling a therapist he was discovering it tough to deal with his sister’s disappearance.
Haydon, 24, was present in his flat in Bletchley on November 14 2019. He was rushed to hospital the place he died two days later.
The devoted brother had tried to conduct his personal investigation into Leah’s disappearance, even ending up in court docket after threatening her former boyfriend, who he wrongly blamed for the disappearance.
Choose Francis Sheridan had stated that the case was ‘an actual tragedy’, including: ‘You and your loved ones are entitled and deserving of utter sympathy from everyone, as a result of Leah has gone lacking.’
For confidential help, name Samaritans on 116 123, go to samaritans.org or go to www.thecalmzone.internet/get-support
