Police divers are to search a pond on Hampstead Heath, in north London, for the body of a man who went missing nearly eight years ago.
Scotland Yard said officers would search Highgate No 1 Pond after receiving information that suggested Robert Duff’s body could be in the water. Duff was 37 when he was reported missing in 2013 after he did not show up at his daughter’s 18th birthday party.
“My team remains committed to finding Robert and providing the answers that his family are so desperately longing for,” said DI Tom Williams, of the specialist crime command.
“Following previous appeals, information was provided to my team that has led us to conduct a search of the No 1 pond in Highgate. This work will continue over the coming weeks.
“Understandably, while this search is ongoing, this will be an incredibly distressing time for Robert’s family. I would ask anyone who has information about where Robert is, or what may have happened to him, to contact police.
“Not knowing what has happened to a loved one is a torment no family should endure; if you can help, please do the right thing and contact police and give Robert’s family the closure they deserve.”
Duff’s disappearance was treated as a missing persons inquiry until 2018, when a television appeal on ITV London Tonight led a new witness to come forward.
Police launched a murder investigation and began searching near the area where he was last seen, including in Waterlow Park, Highgate, north London.
Police believe Duff was involved in a fight with two men on the day he disappeared, and was killed that night. He had been to a flat in Bredgar Road, Archway, in north London, on the night and several people were there.
On 14 May 2018, two men – one aged 70, the other aged 51 – were arrested in Archway on suspicion of murder and questioned, before being released under investigation.
