Case investigating mysterious disappearance of Royal Navy sailor Simon Parkes 40 years ago closed after all enquiries exhausted
A police investigation looking into the mysterious disappearance of a Royal Navy sailor 40 years ago has been closed after “all lines of enquiry” have been “exhausted”.
Royal Navy Rating Simon Parkes, from Bristol, was last seen at the start of December 1986 when the ship he was serving on, HMS Illustrious, was docked in Gibraltar.
The 18-year-old radio operator went missing late at night after a day of drinking with his crewmates.
He left his friends at approximately 10.30pm at the Horseshoe Pub in Main Street telling them he was going to get food before returning to the ship, but he was never seen again.
When HMS Illustrious arrived in Portsmouth a few days later, no one knew what happened to him, prompting a huge missing person investigation.
After decades, the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary received new information in 2019, resulting in specialist teams, such as forensics, being deployed to Gibraltar to conduct enquiries alongside Royal Gibraltar Police.
Taking all the evidence into account and advice from the Crown Prosecution Service, the police force has confirmed the case will now be closed, pending any new information.
Detective Superintendent Adam Edwards said: “Officers have worked tirelessly to investigate the disappearance of Simon Parkes, and to find answers for his devastated family.
“Following a complex investigation which has included advice from the CPS, we are now drawing our enquiries to a close. The full circumstances surrounding Simon’s disappearance still remain unknown, however police will continue to support the ongoing Coronial process.
“As with any cold case, no case is ever closed indefinitely – if we get new information that offers new and legitimate investigative opportunities then we will take further action.
“With that in mind, we continue to urge anyone who was on HMS Illustrious who knew or knew of Simon but has not yet spoken to us, or anyone who has remembered something new since talking to us last, to get in touch as any small piece of information could really help our investigation.
“That plea also goes out to anyone who lived in Gibraltar at that time or was on holiday there on December 12, 1986. I know it was a long time ago, but if there is anything you remember being strange or out of place please get in touch.”
Anyone with information about the disappearance of Simon is advised to call the police on 101, quoting Operation Thornhill.