The body of a man reported missing from a Bristol homeless hostel was discovered in another resident's room a full week after he vanished, prompting a major investigation and serious questions for both police and the charity running the facility.
A Week-Long Search Ends in Tragedy
Zaid Jawad, 40, was found deceased at Logos House, a Salvation Army hostel in the St Jude's area of Bristol, on Saturday, 3 January 2026. The grim discovery came six days after the Salvation Army reported him missing to Avon and Somerset Police on Monday, 29 December, and seven days after his family first alerted the charity to his disappearance.
His sisters, Dina and Tegan, had grown concerned when they could not contact him over the Christmas period. They reported him missing to the Salvation Army on Sunday, 28 December. Despite these alerts, it appears the hostel, which can accommodate up to 93 men, was not thoroughly searched.
Systemic Failures Under Scrutiny
The breakthrough only came on 3 January, when a review of CCTV footage revealed Zaid had never left the building. The footage showed him entering another resident's room on the evening of Saturday, 27 December, and not re-emerging. Officers went to the room that afternoon and found his body.
"We're in complete disbelief that he was there for seven days and no one is taking accountability for it," said his sister Dina. "He was left to rot, basically." The family expressed shock that the resident of the room had continued to live there with Zaid's body present for nearly a week.
Dina questioned the hostel's procedures, stating: "We were informed they were checking on him three times a day, but later we discovered they only do that for some of the residents, and they only check everyone's rooms on a Saturday."
Police and IOPC Investigations Launched
Avon and Somerset Police have referred themselves to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), a routine but mandatory step in such circumstances. The IOPC confirmed it is assessing the referral to decide if an investigation into police conduct is required.
Police confirmed two men, aged 43 and 61, were arrested on Saturday, 3 January. They have since been released on police bail. It is understood one is the resident of the room where Zaid was found, and the other is a man who visited the flat during the week.
A forensic post-mortem examination proved inconclusive, and further tests are being conducted to establish the cause of death. Neighbourhood Inspector John Shaddick stated: "Our thoughts are with the man's family at this very difficult time. While our investigation is still at an early stage we do believe him to be the person officers were trying to locate."
The Salvation Army said its team at Logos House was "devastated" by Zaid's death but declined to comment further due to the active police enquiry. The charity describes the facility as a 'Lifehouse' offering a safe, supportive environment for men over 22 who have local connections but need emergency accommodation, with stays typically lasting six to twelve months.
Zaid's family are now demanding a full investigation and systemic change. "We want things to change now," Dina said. "We didn't deserve this, and no other family should be going through this in the future."
