‘Bone material’ found in search for sailor missing since 1986
Written by News on 07/12/2019
Police looking for a Royal Navy sailor last seen more than 30 years ago have found “bone material” at a cemetery in Gibraltar.
Simon Parkes, from Bristol, has been missing since December 1986, when the ship he was serving on, HMS Illustrious, was docked in the territory.
The 18-year-old’s disappearance has been part of an investigation into former petty officer Allan Grimson, who is serving a life sentence for the murder of two young men.
Grimson was on board the aircraft carrier at the same time as Mr Parkes.
Detectives from Hampshire Police said they travelled to Gibraltar after receiving “credible” information.
Their activity in the territory has “sparked several new calls in to the major crime investigation team offering new lines of enquiry”, the force said.
The bone fragments will be analysed to assess “whether or not these are human”.
Detective Inspector Roger Wood said: “We knew that there was a chance we wouldn’t find Simon, but we owed it to his family and his crew mates to try.
“The information that led us to Trafalgar Cemetery is credible and as with any cold case, we will take action if new, viable lines of enquiry present themselves.”
He added: “While the searches were not successful in the way we had hoped, we have found some bone material which may or may not be human.
“We are cautious not to put too much significance on it at this time.
“The investigation is far from over and we will be following up promising leads both in the UK and Gibraltar.”
Mr Parkes’s parents, Margaret and David, said: “We would like to thank everyone involved for their support and the opportunity to again search for Simon.
“It is a very difficult time but we are optimistic that the search is not over and we will never give up hope of finding him.”
Grimson was jailed in 2001 for the murders of naval rating Nicholas Wright, 18, from Leicestershire, and barman Sion Jenkins from Newbury, Berkshire.
He has always denied any involvement in the disappearance of Mr Parkes.
(c) Sky News 2019: ‘Bone material’ found in search for sailor missing since 1986
