Essex Police investigating the disappearance of 15-year-old Danielle Jones were continuing to question one of her uncles yesterday on suspicion of murder.
Mr Stuart Campbell (43), the owner of a building firm, was arrested at his home in Grays, Essex at 7.15 a.m. and taken to Harlow police station for questioning. Police continued their "meticulous and painstaking" search of a one-acre building site about four miles from Danielle's home in Grays and a search took place at Mr Campbell's home. Police removed a blue van from the driveway of his home.
He was arrested earlier in the nine-week investigation into Danielle's disappearance on suspicion of abduction and released on bail, but yesterday afternoon police said it was too early to say whether he would be charged.
The schoolgirl was last seen on June 18th on her way to school at St Clere's in Stanford le Hope. Three schoolboys told police they saw Danielle visit shops before school and another witness believes she saw her arguing with a man. Her family believes she is dead and police have said she may have been abducted and not run away from home because she did not bring a change of clothes with her or any personal belongings.
Insp Alan Cook said detectives "fear the worst", and it was very unusual for someone to be arrested on suspicion of murder before the discovery of a body. He denied that there was any link between the search of the building site, which began on Thursday, and Mr Campbell's arrest.
"We have not found Danielle or any of her belongings and we must continue the search," he said. Mr Campbell could be questioned for up to 24 hours, after which police would decide whether to ask a magistrate for an extension to question him for a total of 96 hours.
In a separate development, Essex police have confirmed that they are investigating a fourth incident of an oxygen tube becoming blocked during routine hospital procedures. Police said that as a result of their inquiries it was becoming less likely that the incidents were accidental.
The latest discovery involves a 65-year-old man who was being prepared for surgery at Bournemouth General Hospital in Dorset last November. He suffered no ill effects. The investigation began after a boy of nine in Chelmsford, Essex died last month. The other incidents took place in Basildon, Essex, and Watford. Those patients were not harmed.