Inquest will follow discovery of body

[Daryl]

Inquest will follow discovery of body retrieved from http://www.thisissouthdevon.co.uk/news/Inquest-follow-discovery-body/article-1928508-detail/article.html

AN INQUEST is expected to open today after a missing man's body was found following a controlled gorse fire on Dartmoor.

Simon Jay's remains were discovered by a man walking his dog between Saddle Tor and Haytor above Bovey Tracey on Sunday.

Mr Jay, in his early 40s, was reported missing from his Newton Abbot home just over three months ago.

Exhaustive police searches included areas around Berry Pomeroy Castle and checks of ponds by divers in the Ipplepen area.

His family had issued an appeal for information from anyone who may have seen him or known of his whereabouts.
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Next of kin have since been informed of the weekend's grim discovery.

Formal identification was confirmed during a post-mortem examination which failed to establish the exact cause of death.

It's understood the area of the Moor where the body was discovered was a favourite haunt of Mr Jay.

And he may have died at the spot well before the 'swayling' took place.

A police spokesman said: "Mr Jay was found among gorse bushes following a swayling operation on the moor.

"The burning of the gorse uncovered his body which was then discovered by a dog walker.

"A forensic post-mortem examination was conducted on Monday during which his identification was confirmed.

"There were no suspicious injuries, although the cause of death is as yet unknown.

"Investigators are now supporting the collation of information for the coroner."

Det Insp Sam de Reya said: "I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of the members of the public who supported this investigation and also the Dartmoor Search and Rescue Group and the Search and Rescue Dog Association who were involved in numerous searches.

"Our thoughts go out to Simon's family and friends."