Leah Croucher murder suspect changed appearance - police

The antheral suspected of murdering a teen whose assemblage was recovered 3 years aft she vanished is apt to person changed his quality astir the clip of the offence, constabulary said.

Leah Croucher's remains were recovered astatine a location successful Loxbeare Drive, Milton Keynes successful October.

Neil Maxwell, who was recovered dormant successful April 2019, remains the lone suspect.

Police person released a caller representation of what Mr Maxwell could person looked similar astir the clip of the murder.

Detectives said they believed Maxwell changed his quality to evade apprehension for different crime.

Ms Croucher, 19, was past seen walking to enactment connected 15 February 2019. Her origin of decease is "still nether investigation", an inquest heard connected Wednesday.

At the clip Ms Croucher went missing, Maxwell was connected the tally from constabulary successful transportation with a intersexual battle successful Newport Pagnell successful November 2018, and helium had erstwhile convictions for intersexual offences against women and children.

Thames Valley Police said the 49-year-old, who worked arsenic a attraction antheral for the proprietor of the Loxbeare Drive location owner, who lives abroad, was the lone idiosyncratic to person keys to the house.

Officers besides recovered Ms Croucher's rucksack and different possessions in the loft of the house successful Furzton successful October.

Police said they believed Maxwell changed his quality to evade apprehension arsenic nary witnesses person placed him successful Milton Keynes since December 2018.

The unit released an e-fit representation of what they judge Maxwell whitethorn person looked similar betwixt December 2018 and April 2019.

Det Ch Supt Ian Hunter said the "complex investigation" had "made dependable progress" with hundreds of radical interviewed and extended forensic searches and examinations taking place, arsenic good arsenic CCTV reviews.

He said: "Despite the broad media reporting on with the further inquiries with acquaintances, associates and employers and the caller location to location and CCTV inquiries, we person inactive not identified anyone who saw Maxwell successful oregon astir Milton Keynes since aboriginal December 2018.

"More pertinently, we are yet to place anyone who had seen Maxwell successful Loxbeare Drive before, after, oregon astatine immoderate clip adjacent to erstwhile Leah went missing connected 15 February 2019."

Police said they believed helium besides utilized mendacious names and stopped utilizing his mobile telephone and known vehicles.

Officers appealed for radical to travel guardant with accusation astir Maxwell's movements and individuality based connected the caller image.

"He is apt to person known helium was returning to situation if helium was arrested and convicted," Det Ch Supt Hunter said.

"The probe has present besides established that Maxwell is apt to person changed his quality to debar being recognised. He had grown a beard and whitethorn person mislaid weight."

He said the unit was "absolutely committed to establishing the truth" and Ms Croucher's household are "at the bosom of everything we do".