Search for missing Adrian scaled down after 17 days

Tuesday 22 December 2015

Police have confirmed that the search for missing Adrian Lynch – now in its third week – is being scaled down as they instead focus on investigating hints and clues as to how he disappeared.

Investigators have generated more than 100 lines of inquiry in their search, and they will now be focussing on those, rather than continuing the physical search for the 20-year-old.

They have also issued a timeline of sightings of Adrian after he was dropped off by a taxi at Carrefour Selous on Friday 4 December.

Detective Superintendent Stewart Gull – who is leading the investigation into Adrian’s disappearance, codenamed Operation Panama – said that there is still no evidence of third-party involvement.

The police say that “the sad truth” is that Adrian is likely to be found somewhere, curled up in a ball, having died after becoming disoriented and suffering from hypothermia.

Det Supt Gull said: “As the public can imagine, despite our best efforts, the States of Jersey Police and all of the agencies who are supporting us are heartbroken that we haven’t yet been able to find Adrian and bring him home to his family.

“We also understand that it is difficult to hear that the search will now be scaled down so we can concentrate on the other lines of enquiry.

“We have methodically and systematically searched everywhere that we believe Adrian could be, anywhere where there has been some potential sighting or where he may have subsequently travelled.

“We still believe he may well be in that area somewhere, but it is in a difficult place where we have been unable to find him.

 “We will be asked why we aren’t searching the whole island and the answer to this is simply that there is no evidence Adrian is anywhere else.

“In addition, even though we are a small island, in the absence of any clear evidence to the contrary, it is unrealistic to search some 45 square miles.

“As you can see from the timeline he was seen many times in a short space of time and was very vocal.

“We have had no reports or can find nothing to suggest he is anywhere else.

“We have taken guidance throughout the search from a UK expert who has agreed with the actions we have taken and the areas searched. We have also consulted with Adrian’s family throughout so they understand the reasoning behind all of our decisions.

“We are grateful for their continued support.”