Police believe Neil Maxwell, a convicted sex offender, may have been involved in the teenager’s death.
Image source, Thames Valley PolicePolice suspect a convicted sex offender, who died three years ago, was involved in the death of Leah Croucher.
On Wednesday, police said unidentified remains and a rucksack and personal items belonging to the 19-year-old had been found at a Milton Keynes property.
Thames Valley Police have named Neil Maxwell, who took his own life in April 2019, as the murder suspect.
He was the only person to have keys to the property when Leah went missing, the force said.
Image source, Thames Valley Police
Det Ch Supt Ian Hunter said: “If Maxwell were alive today, we would be seeking his arrest in connection with this investigation, so he could be interviewed under caution to provide his account.”
The teenager was last seen on CCTV in the Buckinghamshire city on Friday, 15 February 2019.
Police began searching the house on Loxbeare Drive in Furzton on Monday evening, following a tip-off phone call from a member of the public.
The force has said forensic examinations at the scene may last “several weeks” and as a result there would continue to be a police presence both at the house and in the area.
It would also “take some time” to formally identify the remains, police added. A post-mortem examination is taking place on Friday.
The property is less than half a mile (0.8km) from where Miss Croucher was last seen in Buzzacott Lane, Furzton, walking in the direction of Loxbeare Drive and Chaffron Way.
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