The family of a man found dead under unexplained circumstances have said their "hearts have been shattered." Andy Reed, a 62-year-old described as a "devoted dad" and "much-loved husband," was discovered by Gloucestershire Police in a ditch beside Old Gloucester Road in Staverton at around 1:20 pm on May 3.
Family Tribute
In a statement released by the force on Tuesday, Mr. Reed's family paid tribute to him, saying: "Andy wasn't just a husband, but a best friend. We made many years of happy memories and he made my life complete. I can't imagine life without him." They added: "Andy was an amazing, kind and gentle man with all of the time in the world for his family. He would help anyone with anything he could. He enjoyed slow days at home pottering around in the garden and garage and taking our dog for long walks. These things he enjoyed with his wife, children and grandchildren."
The tribute continued: "He provided us with comfort, guidance and was a role model for us all. He celebrated all of our wins and stood beside us through our hardest days without hesitation. We are so grateful for the kindness and support from everyone who has brought us comfort during this difficult time. His love will stay with us for the rest of our lives and we will miss him every second of every day."
Investigation Details
The force's Major Crime Investigation Team (MCIT) is investigating Mr. Reed's death, which is still being treated as unexplained. A post-mortem examination found a number of unexplained injuries. Mr. Reed was last seen in the Staverton area at around 10 pm on April 25 and was reported missing on April 28. A missing person appeal was issued the following day, and he was located by officers on May 3.
Enquiries are ongoing, and detectives are continuing to appeal for information that could help establish what happened in the days he was missing. Detective Inspector Paula Hannahford previously said a missing bike may hold important clues. She stated: "Andy may have been riding a blue woman's Dutch style bike when he was last seen on Saturday 25 April, however the bike has not yet been located. The bike has a bright blue/turquoise frame, a white saddle and metal rack above the rear tyre."
Appeal for Witnesses
Officers are particularly keen to speak to people who may have seen Mr. Reed walking or cycling along Old Gloucester Road in Staverton between 10 pm on April 25 and 1:20 pm on May 3, or who may have dashcam or doorbell footage that may have captured him during that period. Mr. Reed was around 6ft tall and of a slim build, with stubble facial hair and short dark brown hair that was thinning on top. He was wearing a blue body warmer over a khaki green jumper and brown cords, and carrying a black rucksack.
Information can be submitted online by using the following form and quoting incident number 237 of May 3: https://www.gloucestershire.police.uk/tua/tell-us-about/cor/tell-us-about-existing-case-report/. Information can also be passed anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers by calling 0800 555 111 or visiting https://crimestoppers-uk.org/.
