A body has been discovered during the extensive search for a missing prisoner who vanished while on temporary day release from a Cumbrian jail earlier this month.
Search Concludes with Tragic Discovery
John Hosker, aged 43, failed to return to HMP Haverigg in Millom, Cumbria, on January 8 after being granted temporary release to attend a work commitment off-site. The search for Mr Hosker concluded tragically on Thursday, January 22, when a body was found at Holme Knott, near Sedbergh.
Police Response and Public Alert
Cumbria Police confirmed that officers were called to the scene at 2.05pm following a report from a member of the public. The man was pronounced deceased at the location. A force spokesperson provided a detailed statement regarding the discovery.
The spokesperson said: "Police investigating a report of a missing man from Haverigg Prison have found a body. The body was found at 2.05pm today at Holme Knott, Sedbergh, after a call from a member of the public. The man was pronounced deceased at the scene. The death is not being treated as suspicious at this time. The family of John Hosker, reported missing on 8 January, have been informed."
Identification Process and Family Notification
Formal identification procedures have not yet been completed, but authorities have taken the step of informing Mr Hosker's family about the discovery. Police have indicated that the death is currently not considered suspicious, though investigations continue as part of standard protocol.
The case highlights the procedures surrounding temporary release from prison facilities and the subsequent monitoring of individuals. HMP Haverigg, a category C prison located in Millom, operates various rehabilitation programs that include work placements outside the prison grounds.
Local authorities have expressed their condolences to the family involved while continuing to handle the matter with appropriate sensitivity. The discovery marks a sombre conclusion to a search operation that spanned several days across the Cumbrian landscape.
