Family of Oldham's Craig Wilcox appeal for murderer to come forward

Craig Wilcox

Police have now announced a reward of £50,000 for information leading to the capture of whoever killed the 28-year old.

Father of one Craig, who had a six-year old boy also called Craig, disappeared from his parent’s home on Norfolk Crescent in Failsworth on Monday, 6th January 2014.

His body was found seven weeks later in Dovestone Reservoir in Saddleworth but despite extensive searches the killer has never been found.

Speaking to mark the five year anniversary of his death, his parents Steven and Caroline said they struggled to tell his son that his dad had been killed: “We told him we thought it was an accident because at first Craig was missing for seven weeks and we didn’t know where he was, when he was found Craig was only six, little Craig, so what do you tell a six-year old?”

Detectives have a good understanding of Craig’s movements on the night of 6 January 2014. It’s known that he left Newton Heath, close to where he lived at around 9.45pm.

He then travelled towards Oldham town centre and arrived in the Dovestone area at around 10.10pm.

Craig had no reason to be in Saddleworth that evening and had never visited the reservoir before. He did not drive or have any way of travelling to the area and there was also no car left at the scene where his body was found.

Police learned after his disappearance that Craig had confided in a friend that he feared for his safety.

A post-mortem examination was carried out, but the result was unascertained.

Five years on, Senior Investigating Officer Detective Chief Inspector Terry Crompton has announced a £50,000 reward for information leading to the conviction of those responsible for Craig’s death.

He said: “It is now five years since Craig’s body was found and his parents continue to endure the agony of not knowing how he came to die.

“While the post-mortem examination didn’t give us clear answers, we sadly believe there is someone out there responsible for his death.

“We are committed to finding his family the answers they deserve and hope, with the life-changing £50,000, we’ll get information leading to the conviction of those responsible for his death.

“We believe there are people out there who know what happened to Craig, or have important information that may help us pursue a prosecution.

“I’d like to appeal to people who know what happened to Craig or have important information that may help us pursue a prosecution: we are ready to listen to whatever information you have, and are prepared to offer a significant quantity of money if that information leads us to catch Craig’s killer.

“We realise that five years is a long time, but I’d ask that people cast their minds back to that January night in 2014.

“Did you see Craig, or see something that seemed out of place or unusual – either in Newton Heath or Dovestone?

“If you believe that you know something that can help us then please get in touch.”

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