Family appeal for information about Alan Jeal's death

Three months after Alan Jeal’s body was found on Perranporth beach, police have released new information in the hope it will assist with the investigation.

Alan’s body was discovered on Perranporth beach on Tuesday 25 February 2014 by a member of the public while out walking his dog at around 2pm. He was naked apart from wearing socks and one walking shoe.

Multiple injuries to his chest, head and hand were found on his body. He suffered significant internal injuries, a flesh wound to his scalp and bleeding hand injuries.

There were some signs of possible drowning but it has not been confirmed as the cause of death.

A set of headphones were found in Alan’s mouth, as well as a rolled-up sock. The white Apple iPhone or iPod style headphones, with volume control, were looped around the back of the sock and were trailing out of his mouth.

The light blue rain coat he was seen wearing in Truro on Monday 24 February has not been found. The navy Regatta jacket found on the beach is thought to be different to the one he was seen wearing in the CCTV images.

Some of Alan’s other belongings are still missing, including a Barclays Bank current account card, a Barclaycard credit card, a Nokia 1110i mobile phone, a third generation iPod shuffle and the rest of the clothing he was wearing.

Alan, 64, who lived alone in Wadebridge, had recently purchased a 10kg weighted training vest and 2kg ankle weights but they have not been located. Detectives are trying to establish whether they were bought for him to wear or whether he bought them for another reason such as a gift for someone else.

He is believed to have got a bus from the Lemon Quay, Truro to Perranporth at around 6.50pm on Monday 24 February. CCTV footage shows him waiting with three other people at a bus stop but these people have not been traced.

Officers have taken advice from HM Coastguard about tides, currents, swell and weather conditions. One theory is that Alan may have entered the water towards Perran Sands however this has not been confirmed.

DCI Dave Thorne, Senior Investigating Officer, said: “Three months on and there are still some gaps in the information we have about Alan and his last movements.

“We are still treating his death as suspicious due to the extent of his injuries and the fact that he was found naked, with a sock and headphones in his mouth.

“There are a number of people we are keen to trace including three people seen with him at the bus stop in Truro who have not come forward yet.

““We believe he may have had a friend in Plymouth and another in Redruth, and would like to speak to them as they may be able to provide crucial information and fill in some of the gaps.

“During the investigation we have discovered that Alan was into online gaming and detectives would also like to hear from anyone who interacted with him online.

“There are lots of theories about how he may have died but we don’t know exactly what happened to him and we want to provide Alan’s family with some answers.”

Alan’s family have also appealed for anyone with information to come forward.

Derek Jeal, Alan’s brother, speaking about Alan at a press conference, described him as a man who never really went far from Cornwall, who loved the outdoor life, particularly surfing when he was younger in the Polzeath area. He describes uncertainties in what happened to Alan which are stopping his family from finding any closure surrounding his death.

Linda Danielis, Alan’s sister, has described Alan as a very fit man who loved walking and was in good health. She says she was shocked by his untimely death and is sad that she did not get to say goodbye to him. She realises there is nothing she can do to bring him back and hopes she will get answers about what happened to Alan.

Police have released a series of photographs of Alan’s belongings which were found on the beach including a rucksack, navy-blue Regatta jacket, wallet and photograph of him when he was two years old in the family home.

All of the images can be viewed on flickr and CCTV footage can be found on the DC Police YouTube channel.

Anyone with any information that could assist with the investigation is asked to contact police on 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111, quoting reference 381 of 1 March 2014.