Fourth anniversary appeal to find teen's killer
HandoutA police force is appealing for information about the murder of a teenager on the fourth anniversary of his disappearance.
Kieran Williams, 18, went missing from his Esplanade West Home in Sunderland on 18 April 2022. Six weeks later his body was found in a makeshift grave on a disused industrial estate south of the River Wear, between the Northern Spire Bridge and Claxheugh Rocks.
He had been stabbed at least 23 times and his body set on fire.
Det Supt Matt Steel, the senior investigating officer for the case, has urged the public to "do the right thing" and help achieve closure for the victim's family.
Two men were charged in connection with Williams' death but both were aquitted of murder after a trial at Newcastle Crown Court.
One of the men, Louis Hackett, was found guilty of manslaughter and jailed for five years, but the judge concluded his killer was still at large.
'Unidentified fingerprints'
Steel said a team continues to review the evidence of the case and following up new leads.
"On the anniversary of Kieran's disappearance, I am urging anyone who knows something about his death to do the right thing and share what they know," he said.
"We know there were other unidentified fingerprints left at the scene of the murder.
"Ultimately, someone, somewhere, knows who they might belong to and is keeping quiet."
Northumbria Police said it will be carrying out inquiries in the area around the crime scene and obtaining fingerprints from people in the community.
Anyone who was at the site of the grave, formerly owned by Coles Cranes, between 15 April and 2 June 2022 has been urged to contact the force so they can be eliminated from the investigation.
The independent charity Crimestoppers is offering a reward leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for the murder.
The reward will only be payable for information passed directly to Crimestoppers, not to the police.