Handcuffed fugitive from police found dead in river
THE body of a handcuffed man who fled from police two months ago has been pulled from the bottom of a river.
Father-of-one Reece Hillier, 22, is believed to have drowned while on the run from officers.
His heartbroken family yesterday attacked police, claiming it was a ‘disgrace’ they had not launched a major search after he vanished.
Officers investigating drugs offences detained Mr Hillier in Southampton on January 12 and placed him in handcuffs.
He escaped, but police found no trace of him until a fisherman discovered his body on Sunday in the River Itchen in Southampton. Detectives said he appeared to have been in the water ‘for some time’.
It is not clear whether he entered the water to evade police or by accident. But the death is not being treated as suspicious. A family member, in her 50s, who did not want to be named, said last night: ‘I can’t believe police allowed this to happen – it’s a disgrace.
‘He was allowed to be there for eight weeks and they wouldn’t even search for him even though his mother pleaded with them. He was such a lovely boy. To be taken away so young is horrific.’
A Hampshire Police spokesman said: ‘An internal review is ongoing and a file is being prepared for the coroner.’
‘He was such a lovely boy’