Detectives investigating the 'no-body' murder of Michael Martin, who disappeared ten years ago, have issued a fresh appeal for the public's help, reiterating that a £50,000 reward for information remains available.
The reward was first revealed by the Manchester Evening News in August. Michael Martin, from Salford, was reported missing on Monday, August 8, 2016. He was last seen 'running away' from a petrol station on Bolton Road in Kearsley, Bolton, at around 7.30am the previous morning, Sunday, August 7, 2016.
Investigation and Family's Plea
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said he has not been seen since, and a subsequent investigation established that he was murdered and his body disposed of 'by criminals known to him'. He was 25 at the time. No murder scene, weapon, evidence, or CCTV footage has ever been recovered, and no witnesses have come forward.
Michael's father, Greg Martin, spoke out to reveal the family's ongoing grief and issue a heartfelt plea for the public's help.
"The not-knowing is gut wrenching every day," he said. "We know he's dead but it's just not knowing where he was, where he is and what happened to him. It'd give the family some closure – a form of sort of peace."
"My message to the people is to do the right thing – tell someone or indirectly let the police know what happened to Michael so we can get some peace of mind and closure," he added.
Reward and Police Appeal
GMP said it is offering a £50,000 reward to anyone who can help recover Michael's body or help catch those responsible for his death. He was well known in the Manchester and Salford areas, most notably in Clifton and Blakley.
A force spokesperson said: "There have been no further reported sightings of Michael - who was 25 when he went missing - and following immediate enquiries, detectives launched a murder investigation the following week."
"The investigation became a 'no-body murder' and detectives have been working over the past ten years to try and bring Michael's body back to his family so they can lay him to rest. A first-of-its-kind reward of £50,000 is being offered for any information which leads to the whereabouts of Michael's body," the spokesperson added.
Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Chief Superintendent Lewis Hughes, said: "It has been ten years since Michael was last seen and his family have had to suffer every single day knowing that he is out there and has not been laid to rest."
"Over the course of the past ten years, we have remained committed to finding out what happened to Michael and we believe someone in the local community knows what happened to him or has information that could help us find his body," he said.
"We need everyone to be thinking about Michael – we have conducted numerous media appeals in the hope that someone knows something. We are appealing directly to help his family lay their loving son to rest. Michael's family have not been able to bury their son to bring an element of closure to this heartbreaking tragedy."
"The reward we are offering has never been offered before and that is how much we want to bring Michael home. His family deserve to bring their boy home. They are coming up to another Christmas and another birthday where they are no closer to answers of what happened to Michael," he continued.
"If you know anything at all, I implore you, please get in touch with us so that we can provide Michael's family with some answers," he added.
Anyone with information can contact GMP's Major Incident Team via the Major Incident Public Portal or get in touch anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
