Remains found in Essex are those of missing Bury St Edmunds man John Dick

Police have confirmed that the body of a missing man from Bury St Edmunds has been found.

38-year-old John Dick went missing from the Bury St Edmunds area 10 months ago and was last seen in Essex on November 30th.

Essex Police launched an investigation on 19 July 2021 after they received reports of a human skull being found on a building site near to Harwich Port.

DNA testing has now been carried out on the skull and the force has confirmed it is the remains of 38-year-old John Dick.

Mr Dick had been missing from the Bury St Edmunds area. He was last seen in Harwich on 30 November, with no additional confirmed sightings.

On September 10, further bones were discovered along the coastline, in Bathside Bay, which led to additional searches in the following days.

Those searches led to the discovery of more remains in nearby marshland. Police are conducting tests to ensure the additional discoveries are the remains of Mr Dick.

Officers say they are not linking the discovery to any other investigation at this time and a file is now being prepared for the coroner.

In a statement, Mr Dick’s family said, “We are absolutely devastated by the loss of our John.
“He was a wonderful man who was funny, kind, generous and trusting and, from the stories that have been shared, it is clear that this has been seen far and wide by so many people.
“Everyone that knew him is better for knowing him and John will be forever missed.
“He was so very loved as a daddy, husband, son and brother and our hearts are shattered at our loss.”