13/10/2015

Police Appeal For Information Over Unexplained Death Case

Police investigating the death of a 25-year-old man in Dagenham have appealed for help in tracing the last person believed to have spoken to him.

Jack Taylor, of Hogarth Road, Dagenham, was found dead on Monday, 14 September, at about 13:30hrs at Barking Abbey ruins, off Abbey Road, Barking.

A post-mortem examination at Queen's Hospital mortuary was inconclusive and further tests await.

Mr Taylor, a night duty forklift operator at a warehouse, had been out with friends on the evening of Saturday, 12 September. He returned home but went back out again in the early hours of Sunday, 13 September, having called a cab.

CCTV showed him meeting a man in Station Parade near Barking rail station between 02:03hrs and 03:00hrs. They walked off together in the direction of the Abbey.

Sergeant Matthew Laffan, from police at Barking and Dagenham, said: "We are not sure how long Jack had been at the Abbey ruins but clearly there is a period of time unaccounted for.

"We are trying to piece together his last movements and the man captured on CCTV may well be the last person to talk to Jack. This makes him a key witness and we need to speak to him urgently.

"If you recognise him please contact us so Jack's family can understand what happened to him."

The man is described as white and 6ft - 6ft 2ins with a distinctive walk.

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101 quoting Operation Merckx or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

(MH/CD)

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