Searches taking place in Stonehouse in relation to murder investigation

Searches are taking place at an address in Stonehouse in connection with a murder investigation.

Detectives are now appealing for anyone who has information which could assist the ongoing investigation to come forward.

On 12 January police were called to a property on Park Road in Stonehouse with a report that 77-year-old John Coxon had sustained a head injury.

He was taken to Gloucestershire Royal Hospital by ambulance for treatment.

A man was subsequently arrested on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm in connection with the incident, and was later released under investigation.

Mr Coxon remained in hospital until he died on 25 March.

The investigation into Mr Coxon’s death was subsequently passed to the Major Crime Investigation Team (MCIT) and a murder investigation was launched.

Earlier today, Wednesday 31 August, a 64-year-old man from Stroud was re-arrested on suspicion of murder. He remains in police custody.

MCIT Detective Inspector Adam Stacey said: “Over the coming days there will be a police presence at Mr Coxon’s address in Stonehouse while further searches take place there.

“We wanted to let the local community know why we’re in the area, and to also urge anyone who thinks they have information relating to Mr Coxon’s death to please come forward.

“You can contact us online or by calling us on 101, or if you’d prefer to provide information anonymously then you can contact Crimestoppers.

“We appreciate that we’re asking people to cast their minds back to January, in case they saw someone in the area or witnessed something. As Mr Coxon also died several months ago, we’re keen to hear from anyone who has heard anything about what led to his death.”

Anyone with information can provide this to police online by completing the following form and quoting incident 271 of 12 January: https://www.gloucestershire.police.uk/contact/af/contact-us/us/a-crime-that-has-already-been-reported You can also call police on 101.

To give information anonymously you can contact independent crime-fighting charity Crimestoppers online https://crimestoppers-uk.org/give-information/forms/give-information-anonymously or by calling 0800 555 111.