The family of Terry McSpadden who disappeared nine years ago is calling for answers after the inquest into his death was opened.
Terry McSpadden of Elm was last seen in the early hours of March 2, 2007. An inquest into the 24-year-old’s death opened on Monday at King’s Lynn Coroner’s Court.
Senior coroner Jacqueline Lake said: “The case is unusual in that the body of Terry McSpadden has not been found.
“However I have applied to the chief coroner for the ability to open an investigation into his death on the basis there is no evidence of life after March 2, 2007.”
She said she was of the view his death occurred in Norfolk.
A man appeared before Norwich Magistrates’ Court in 2012 charged with the murder of Mr McSpadden, but a crown court judge dismissed the case in 2013, citing insufficient evidence.
In 2014, Crimestoppers offered a reward of £5,000 to anyone with information about what happened to the father-of-two.
A pre-inquest hearing will take place on August 22.
Last sightings of Terry were in 2007, when on the evening of He had spent the evening of March 1 in the Locomotive pub, in Wisbech, and then went to the town’s Tesco supermarket at about 1am before returning to his home in Outwell Road, Elm.
Police said the disappearance was out of character for the father-of-two and, despite detailed searches of both the local area and Mr McSpadden’s home and numerous missing person appeals, he has never been found.
Two years ago Det Insp Marie James, of the Norfolk and Suffolk Major Investigation Team, said: “While Terry’s disappearance was initially treated as a missing person’s inquiry, we have long since believed that Terry is no longer alive and his death was as the result of foul play. His body has never been found.
“There are individuals out there who know how and why Terry has disappeared. We also believe there are other people with important information who may have ¬previously not felt able to come forward.”
Mr McSpadden used to cycle everywhere and his black mountain bike, repainted from pink, has also never been found.
His stepmother Susan Rolfe said: “Terry’s children miss their daddy and really want him to come home. It is like living a nightmare.
“Somebody must know something that will help us establish what happened seven years ago.”
Crimestoppers is offering the reward of up to £5,000 for information passed on directly to the charity anonymously on 0800 555 111 that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person responsible.
Information given directly to police or via the
People can also contact the Norfolk and Suffolk Major Investigation Team by dialling 101
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here