Joel Eldridge, 29, from Bexhill, East Sussex, moved to Portugal in January 2018
Portuguese police have discovered the remains of a man they believe is a missing Brit his family last heard from more than a year ago in a case being treated as a potential murder.
Joel Eldridge, 29, from Bexhill, East Sussex, moved to Portugal in January 2018 after being invited by friends to join them on a building project.
Officers from Portugal’s Policia Judiciaria force confirmed that human remains have been found ‘hidden’ in woodland near the town of Pedrogao Grande in central Portugal.
Local PJ chief Valter Constantino told local media: ‘We strongly believe the remains are those of the missing British man but we can only confirm this with the results of the autopsy.’
Saying the body had been ‘well-hidden’, he said: ‘All theories are being looked at. The investigation has been ongoing for more than a year and has led us to the discovery of this body.
‘As well as the body, possible evidence was recovered from a property.’
The PJ said in a statement: ‘As part of an investigation into a suspected homicide which began about a year ago, the Judicial Police, through the Center’s Directorate and the Scientific Police Laboratory, carried out investigations and searches on the ground today in the area of Pedrogão Grande.
‘Human bones thought to be those of a British citizen who went missing last year, were found.
‘It was necessary to resort to technical-scientific methods of forensic archeology, as well as geo-radar equipment, to locate the corpse.
‘The remains found will be removed to the National Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences for autopsy.
Joel’s disappearance was reported to Sussex Police in late August last year and they issued a public and media appeal at the end of that month
‘The investigation is being conducted in close collaboration with UK law enforcement authorities, with a view to further clarifying the facts.’
Mr Eldridge’s disappearance was reported to Sussex Police in late August last year and they issued a public and media appeal at the end of that month.
Detectives from the Surrey and Sussex Major Crime Team have been working closely with the PJ and have visited Portugal several times.
Detective Chief Inspector Chris Friday, of the Surrey and Sussex Major Crime Team, said: ‘Our enquiries, supporting those of the Portuguese investigators, gave us cause to believe that Joel had come to harm at the hands of others in while in Portugal’.
Officers from Portugal’s Policia Judiciaria force confirmed that human remains have been found ‘hidden’ in woodland near the town of Pedrogao Grande in central Portugal
His mother Jacqueline Eldridge appealed for the public’s help in November last year during a visit to central Portugal, saying: ‘This is not like Joel. Something has happened and we do not believe he has left the Sertã/Coimbra region.
‘Wherever Joel is, or whatever the situation, we want him home and will do all we can to help him. Please help if you can.’
She had previously told journalists in Portugal, around three months after his family last heard from him, that she knew Joel was depressed and wanted to return to the UK before he vanished.
She said the work he ended up doing after he arrived in Portugal was different to what he expected and he was in an ‘isolated’ area with no driving licence.
The PJ said on Tuesday that Portuguese officers had discovered the body near Pedrogao Grande and the town of Picha
Local reports at the time said he went to live in a rented house with other Brits but ended up leaving the village for a while before returning.
The reports said Joel’s parents had been told by some of the Brits he knew they understood he had returned to the UK.
In March this year, Mrs Eldridge, said in a video appeal alongside her husband Alan in March which coincided with his 30th birthday: ‘I am very concerned, my husband and I very concerned about Joel.
Local reports at the time said he went to live in a rented house with other Brits
‘He went out in January last year to Portugal to work for a few months. He’d kept in touch with us, he’d kept in touch with all his friends on social media and then suddenly everything stopped.
‘Joel went out to Portugal to a little village called Maceira which is in central Portugal in the mountain region.
‘We haven’t heard from him since July of last year and we’re getting very worried and we know somebody knows something.
‘Please if you know anything, if you’ve heard any rumours about where Joel might be, if you’ve seen Joel, who was the last person to see him?
‘We just need to find him and please would like anyone who knows anything to get in touch with Sussex Police and tell them what they know however insignificant.’