Human remains discovered in house after 6-year search for missing father

Two arrests have been made after human remains were discovered in the search for a missing man.

Detectives have told the family of Richard Dyson, 58, who vanished in Barnsley in 2019, that a body was found in a house in Hoyland, Barnsley on Monday.

The father was last seen on 17 November at about 11pm, walking along the A6135 Sheffield Road in Hoyland.

On Monday, police cordoned off the area as forensics are expected to scour the scene for the next few weeks.

A South Yorkshire Police spokesman said: ‘Officers are keeping an open mind around the circumstances of the discovery, and formal identification of the remains is yet to take place.

‘However, the family of Richard Dyson, a 58-year-old man who was been missing from Barnsley since 2019, have been informed of the developments.

‘They are being supported and kept updated on progress.’

Richard’s last known appearance was at a meeting with his daughter Bethany on November 17 2019.

He was reported missing on November 25 after he failed to turn up for another arranged meeting.

In a tearful statement in December 2020, Bethany made an appeal for her missing father after spending what would have been a second Christmas without him.

She said: ‘Someone must know what’s happened to my dad. Please just come forward and tell me what you know.

‘I just know he loves me and I love him and he wouldn’t go this long without seeing me by chance.’

Two men aged 72 and 71, who have previously been arrested on suspicion of murder in connection with Richard’s disappearance, were re-arrested on suspicion of the same offence.

They were questioned again but have since been bailed.

Senior Investigating Officer, Andy Knowles, said: ‘We are keeping an open mind following this discovery, and working around the clock to establish the identity of the person involved and the circumstances surrounding this development.

‘Richard Dyson and his family remain at the forefront of our minds as we progress our enquiries, and we know how important it is for them to get answers.

‘We remain keen to hear from anyone with any information which could assist us, no matter how insignificant it may seem. Please get in touch and tell us what you know.’

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