Footage Shows Moment Man Feared To Have Been Murdered Is Found In Woods

Police footage shows the moment a man feared to have been murdered was found living in a woodland camp, some five years after he disappeared.

Ricardas Puisys, 35, vanished without a trace when he disappeared from his home in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, having last been seen in September 2015.

In a new episode of 24 Hours in Police Custody, which airs on Channel 4 on Monday, we see the moment police finally tracked him down, having discovered his makeshift woodland home in July last year.

In the clip, we hear officers shouting: "We got him!"

Puisys - who is now 40 - is then escorted from his camp, as officers reassure him that he's safe - handing him his missing persons poster while he's sitting in the back of the police car.

Channel 4

Superintendent Adam Gallop, who led the murder investigation, said: "While I always hoped we would find Ricardas alive all the evidence led us to believe it was highly unlikely. Given the fact no one had seen or heard from him our searches were focused on looking for his body and those responsible for his death.

"He had literally vanished and no one ever saw him again."

The five-year investigation began with searches to locate Puisys' body.

However, three years in, the case took an unexpected turn when police found a Facebook page set up by someone claiming to be Puisys - giving hope that he was actually still alive.

Bav Media

Superintendent Gallop added: "This was one of the most unusual cases I have ever led. We had strong evidence to suggest Ricardas had been murdered and there was no trace of him after September 2015.

"When we found the Facebook page it gave us hope but it still took time and a great deal of good detective work to discover the truth behind Ricardas disappearance and finally locate him."

The investigation helped the team uncover disturbing details about an underground world of modern slavery in Cambridgeshire, which Superintendent Gallop saying Puisys had been forced into by a man with links to organised crime.

When Puisys was found last year, Detective Chief Inspector Rob Hall explained how there had been 'genuine concerns' that he had come to harm the evening he went missing.

Cambridgeshire Police

"He did not return to work on Monday, September 28, 2015 as expected, but we now believe Ricardas made the decision to run away as he had been a victim of crime, having previously been subject to exploitation," he said.

"A team of investigators worked tirelessly following up a number of inquiries, none leading to the discovery of Ricardas. That was until we received information that Ricardas may have been alive and still in the Wisbech area.

"Following a search of wooded area in Harecroft Road, Ricardas was eventually found living in undergrowth, very well concealed after having deliberately hidden and having not spoken with anyone for some time."

Watch 'The No Body Murder' episode of 24 Hours in Police Custody at 9pm on Monday 5 April, with previous episodes also available to watch on All4.

Topics: UK News, TV and Film, News, UK Entertainment

Jess Hardiman

Jess is a journalist at LADbible who graduated from Manchester University with a degree in Film Studies, English Language and Linguistics - indecisiveness at its finest, right there. She also works for FOODbible and its sister page Seitanists, which are both a safe haven for her to channel a love for homemade pasta, fennel and everything else in between. You can contact Jess at [email protected].

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