Family urge 'dangerous' ex-partner of woman found murdered on New Year's Eve to hand himself in
'We will find you. You know you need to do the right thing'
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Detectives hunting the “dangerous” ex-partner of a woman found dead at her flat on New Year’s Eve have urged him to turn himself in.
June Jones, 33, was found murdered at her maisonette in Wyndmill Crescent, West Bromwich, after officers forced their way in at about 2am on 31 December.
A post-mortem did not establish a cause of death but Ms Jones was found to have been brutally assaulted with a weapon.
Police have recovered an item believed to have been used in the assault, which is currently being tested.
A manhunt is underway to find Ms Jones’ ex-partner Michael Foran, 32, who has not been seen since her death.
Security camera images revealed Mr Foran was in West Bromwich on New Year’s Eve.
He was then captured on CCTV footage at an Esso petrol station in the Anfield area of Liverpool on New Year’s Day wearing the same clothing.
Detectives believe Mr Foran, who has family links to Waterford in the Republic of Ireland, may have travelled to Liverpool to board a ferry across the Irish Sea.
A 34-year-old man from West Bromwich was arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender on Thursday.
Police have now asked for the public’s help, but warned people not to approach the 32-year-old and instead call 999 immediately.
The West Midlands force added that Merseyside Police had now joined the manhunt, while Border Force and the Irish police were watching the ports and airports in the UK and Ireland.
Detective Inspector Warren Hines, of West Midlands Police, said unemployed Mr Foran and the victim had had a “difficult” relationship that lasted about 10 years.
He added that at the time of Ms Jones’ death, the couple appeared to have been living together.
Mr Hines appealed for the public’s aid, but also warned anyone who might have been considering helping Foran to think again.
“I would ask anybody who does see him, to contact the local police as a matter of urgency,” he said.
“He is, in my view, an extremely dangerous individual, and I don’t suggest that the public approach him.”
“I would just like to say to people, here or in Merseyside, if you are considering putting this guy up, giving him money, topping up his phone, or keeping him out of our way, then we will look to prosecute you,” he added.
“June has lost her life, we suspect at the hands of somebody she should have been able to trust, in her own home – the place where she should have been able to feel safe.
“In my view it doesn’t really get much worse than that.
“My message to Michael Foran is you are only delaying the inevitable by not handing yourself in.
“We will find you. You know you need to do the right thing.”
Ms Jones had been reported missing by her sister on Boxing Day – five days before she was found.
In a statement her family appealed directly to Mr Foran to “do the right thing” and “hand himself in”.
“We’ve been left completely devastated by June’s death,” they said.
“We now need anyone who knows where Michael is to get in touch with the police as soon as possible.
“If he sees this appeal, we’d appeal to him directly to do the right thing and go to the nearest police station and hand himself in.”
The West Midlands force has also referred its handling of the missing person inquiry to the Independent Office for Police Conduct, which is standard procedure in such cases.
Anyone who sees Mr Foran should call 999, while anyone with information should contact police at west-midlands.police.uk or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Additional reporting by Press Association