A man who was seen carrying wet clothes on the evening a young man disappeared could be key to the investigation into his death.
Felix Yorke’s body was found in the River Great Ouse in Bedford on New Year’s Day, and he was last seen leaving work at Topman in Luton on November 30.
On the evening of November 30, a member of the public phoned the police saying they had heard a splash near the river at about 7.15pm which they thought was a person falling or jumping into the water.
Police and fire services searched the banks of the river that evening and again the next morning, and after seeing a newspaper report about the searches a second witness reported seeing a man with wet clothes.
The witness said he was approached by a man carrying wet clothes on the same evening at about 9pm in Victoria Road, Bedford.
The man asked the witness for a cigarette, and explained he had fallen in the water and lost his rucksack along with a picture of his daughter in the process. He seemed to have come from the direction of the river.
Although he was carrying wet clothes, he was wearing dry clothes including black tracksuit-style trousers with a stripe down the side and black ‘croc’-style shoes.
He’s described as a white man, aged in his 30s, with a full beard, light brown hair just above collar length and about 5ft 10-11ins tall.
He walked off in the direction of St Leonards Court and seemed familiar with the area.
Sgt Gavin Conder of the Missing Person Unit (MPU) said: “We have been trying to trace the man with the wet clothes but have not yet been able to find him.
“We know that Felix’s phone was last active at 7pm on November 30, and that it was in Bedford at that time. We also have a report of someone falling in the water at about the same time and also the report of a man with wet clothes about two hours later.
“These three things may not be linked in any way, but we would like to trace the man with the wet clothes to see if he can clarify any of the information we have. If anyone knows who he is, please let us know so we can contact him.”
In the meantime, officers are still awaiting the results of DNA and other tests which would confirm that the body found in the river is that of Felix.
The MPU are still appealing for anyone who knew why Felix was in the Bedford area on that night to come forward.
Contact the MPU directly on 01234 275317, or text the force control room on 07786 200011.