Man believed to have been murdered found alive after being missing for five years

Richardas Puisys has been found alive
Richardas Puisys had been missing for five years Credit: Richardas Puisys had been missing for five years

A Lithuanian man who police feared dead has been found alive after being missing for almost five years.

Richardas Puisys vanished in November 2015 sparking a murder investigation. Mr Puisys, was 35 at the time, and had not been seen for several weeks, but the hunt for him ended early last month when he was found alive and well in Wisbech.

Detective Chief Inspector Rob Hall, from the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Major Crime Unit, said:

Initial concerns for Ricardas’ safety were raised in late August 2015 over claims he was being exploited and had moved addresses within Wisbech.

At this time he worked at Nightlayer Leek Company in Dean Drove, Chatteris, through an agency. He worked on Saturday, 26 September, 2015 and this was the last confirmed and corroborated sighting of him alive and well.

Later that same evening he was believed to be in the company of a small group of Lithuanian men, but from this moment he had vanished.

Last year a Facebook page was set up using his name prompting a new police appeal. Photographs of someone who appears to be Mr Puisys appeared on the page in his name.

Images of Mr Puisys had been appearing on social media Credit:

DCI Hall added:

He was eventually found living in undergrowth. Police said he was very well concealed after having deliberately hidden and having not spoken with anyone for some time.

Police said they have only now revealed he was alive after ensuring Mr Puisys was protected.

An investigation into potential exploitation of Mr Puisys has now been launched.