New appeal to trace missing Keighley man in ‘murder’ body hunt (From Keighley News)

New appeal to trace missing Keighley man in ‘murder’ body hunt

2:00pm Friday 4th January 2013 in Keighley

Murder squad detectives, investigating a death without a body case from the turn of the century, have made a fresh appeal for information.

Officers are still desperate to solve the case of Alan Crabtree, who is feared dead having not been seen since September 13, 2000.

Two years ago – a decade after he was last seen alive in Keighley – detectives revealed they believed Mr Crabtree was dead and they were looking at a murder inquiry.

But Mr Crabtree’s body has still not been found, and the investigation remains unresolved.

The senior investigating officer, Detective Superintendent Dave Pervin, of West Yorkshire Police’s Homicide and Major Enquiry Team, insisted the case would not be closed.

He said: “Alan Crabtree has been missing for a long time. We are still looking for him and we still need to hear from anyone with any information about his whereabouts, or what may have happened to him.

“Our investigation continues and we again appeal for anyone out there who has any information about Mr Crabtree to come forward and tell us.”

Mr Crabtree was 41 when he vanished.

He left his home, in Westgate Hill, Tong Street, Bradford, and travelled by bus with a female friend to Keighley, where he joined other friends for a drinking session at a house in Alice Street. It is understood he left to make his way to Keighley station to catch a train, but the trail went cold after leaving the house.

In February 2010, Det Supt Pervin said he was drawn to the conclusion that Mr Crabtree was dead, and probably was soon after, if not on, the day he was last seen alive.

Later that year, police arrested three people, originally from Keighley – a 37-year-old woman and men aged 38 and 50 – on suspicion of Mr Crabtree’s murder.

They were later released without charge.

But their questioning led to police frogmen making underwater searches of Keighley Tarn, the Leeds-Liverpool Canal and the rivers Aire and Worth.

Mr Crabtree was wearing blue jeans, a blue and white cotton jacket, white jumper and black boots when he was last seen.

Anyone with information is urged to contact West Yorkshire Police on 101, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.