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Spanish police have arrested a 32-year-old man from an Eastern European country in connection with the suspected murder of Belfast man John George, whose decomposing body was discovered on a farm in Rojales, Costa Blanca. The body, believed to be that of the 37-year-old father of two, was found hidden among trees and in an advanced state of decomposition.
John George, also known as John Hardy or Georgie, had been on holiday in Alicante and was last in contact with his family on December 14. His disappearance triggered weeks of intensive searching by family, friends, and authorities. He was reported missing on December 18, four days after failing to board his return flight to Northern Ireland from Alicante-Elche Airport.
Discovery of the Body
The grim discovery was made in a rural area of Rojales on Tuesday morning. Specialists from the Civil Guard’s Criminalistics Laboratory and Judicial Police were dispatched to inspect the scene, while a judicial commission was alerted to oversee the removal of the body. The remains have been transferred to the Institute of Legal Medicine in Alicante, where an autopsy will determine the exact cause of death.
See also: Family claims Belfast man was lured to his death
Sources close to the investigation revealed that the arrest of the 32-year-old suspect occurred just hours after the body was discovered. Authorities are continuing to investigate, and additional arrests have not been ruled out, as it is believed that others involved in the crime may still be at large. The Territorial Judicial Police Team of Pilar de la Horadada is leading the inquiry, and the Alicante Command has confirmed that the case is being treated as a homicide.
Family’s Response and Search Efforts
John George’s disappearance deeply concerned his family, who had feared foul play since losing contact with him in mid-December. The family officially reported him missing to the Guardia Civil on December 21 and offered a £30,000 reward for any information leading to his whereabouts.
In a statement released through their lawyer, Kevin Winters of KRW Law, the family confirmed they had been informed of the discovery by Spanish police. Winters stated:
“Mr. Billy George was told that his son’s body is now in a morgue awaiting formal identification. The family is distraught but also relieved by this latest news, which brings to an end an extremely tortuous search for the body.”
The lawyer also added that Spanish authorities had launched a murder investigation into the case.
The family and friends of John George, who was a father of two, had traveled to Alicante to organize search operations, even enlisting rescue teams with specialized search dogs. Flyers circulated during the search revealed that John George had been staying on the Costa Blanca to meet friends in Cabo Roig, Orihuela Costa. He had planned to travel to Benidorm two days later, though it was unclear if he ever arrived.
During his last phone call to his family on December 14, George reportedly seemed distressed. His failure to return home and board his flight prompted his family to fear the worst.
Murder Investigation Underway
The arrest of the suspect is a significant development in the case. According to sources close to the investigation, the missing man’s family had previously indicated that Spanish authorities had questioned and possibly detained a suspect in the days leading up to the discovery of the body. The investigation remains active, and police are exploring the possibility of more arrests as they work to identify all individuals involved.
The Civil Guard has described the case as ongoing and has not yet released further details about the suspect or the potential motive for the crime.
Autopsy and Next Steps
The body, which is still awaiting official identification through DNA or fingerprint analysis, is set to undergo an autopsy at the Institute of Legal Medicine in Alicante. The results are expected to shed light on the exact circumstances surrounding George’s death.
This tragic development ends weeks of uncertainty for George’s family, who had held onto hope of finding him alive. While they are relieved that his remains have been located, the discovery has brought profound grief. Their focus now shifts to seeking justice for John George as Spanish authorities continue their investigation into his death.
Main image_ Family photo
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