‘A number of unanswered questions’ in murder inquiry
This is Ian Lees, the 53-year-old Modbury North man who has sparked a murder inquiry after DNA testing proved a body discovered in bushland north of Adelaide last month was his.
SA Police are now trying to unravel what happened to Lees after he was last seen at 2.48am on March 1, walking down Fairleigh Avenue at Modbury North.
On July 26, his remains were discovered by a bushwalker at Hale Conservation Park near Williamstown.
Police believe Lees had been dead for several months before his body was found, but they don’t know exactly when or where he died.
He was only positively identified after DNA testing.
Lees, described as a “very jovial and social person with a large friendship group”, was reported missing by a family member on March 4.
A public appeal was launched in March to help find him, but at the time police said they didn’t believe foul play was involved.
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“It’s evident to us from our investigation to date that Ian had suffered significant physical injuries,” Major Crime Detective Inspector Brett Featherby told reporters this afternoon.
“As a result of that and due to the circumstance of his disappearance, the location as to where his body was located and the injuries received, his disappearance has now been declared a major crime as a suspected murder.
“We’re current searching Ian’s home address in relation to a suspected murder, but at this time I won’t comment further on that for operational reasons.”
Featherby said Lees’ phone was found by council workers at Civic Park Modbury opposite Tea Tree Plaza, while his backpack, wallet, keys and thongs were located in bushes in the reserve at the end of Fairleigh Avenue at Modbury North.
“It would appear at this time that nothing has been stolen and they were just left there at that location,” Featherby said.
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“Ian has made no access to his bank accounts. A deposit was made to his bank account on the 8th of March that has not been accessed.
“We’ve canvassed all taxis, Ubers, and public transport in the area around the time of his disappearance and to date we have no leads or don’t believe he’s actually left that area in any of those modes of transport.”
Police have released CCTV footage of Lees at the Tea Tree Plaza shopping centre on the night he went missing.
Featherby said Lees, described as an avid football fan who “enjoyed debating statistics”, would regularly frequent Modbury North and Tea Tree Plaza with a blue heeler dog named Jasper.
He said there were “a number of unanswered questions” about his disappearance and death, including whether he had been involved in an argument.
“We’re currently working on several lines of inquiry and strongly urge anyone with information over Ian’s disappearance to come forward,” he said.
“The investigation is in its infancy.”
Featherby declined to speculate on how Lees’ injuries occurred or whether there were weapons involved.
He urged anyone with information related to Lees’ death to ring Crime Stoppers.
Police have released CCTV footage of Lees at the Tea Tree Plaza shopping centre on the night he went missing.
Police have requested dashcam footage from anyone who was on Ladywood Road, Fairleigh Avenue, Montague Road and North East Road between 5pm on February 27 and 9am on March 1.
They are also seeking dashcam footage from anyone who might have been in the vicinity of Warren Road at Williamstown near Hale Conservation Park between 3am on March 1 and March 7.
