Skeletal Remains found in Guernsey: What We Know So Far

Credit: States of Guernsey Police

Monday 8th January

  • Police and firefighters in Guernsey attend a burnt-out vehicle in Petit Bot.

  • Initial inquiries begin.

Wednesday 10th January

  • A forensic examination is carried out due to significant fire damage.

  • Police find what they suspected to be parts of skeletal remains.

  • Mikus Alps, a 33-year-old Latvian man, is reported missing since the early hours of Monday morning.

Friday 12th January

  • Fire and forensic experts from the UK are brought to Guernsey to help with examinations of the car.

Sunday 14th January

  • Police receive confirmation that the skeletal remains are human.

Monday 15th January

  • Guernsey Police Chief Patrick Rice delivers press conference to the media.

  • Police confirm the vehicle is registered to the missing man, Mr Alps.

  • The skeletal remains have not been identified.

Wednesday 17th January

  • Guernsey Police confirm that Mr Alps was a licensed shotgun holder.

Thursday 18th January

  • A pathologist from the UK Home Office conducts a post-mortem examination on the human remains.

Friday 19th January

  • The human remains are male, as confirmed by the post-mortem examination.

  • DNA and other samples were also retrieved and are sent to the UK for further forensic examination.

  • A letter, hand-delivered to Police HQ, thought to be from Mr Alps, is sent to the UK for analysis from a handwriting expert.

Tuesday 23rd January

  • Guernsey Police confirm the skeletal remains are those of Mikus Alps.

  • The cause of death is still unknown.

  • The letter handed into police is described as "sombre and reflective".

What else do we know?

  • Mr Alps came to Guernsey in 2005 and worked in the motor trade.

  • Mr Alps had a connection to a pro-Ukraine and anti-Russian movement.

  • A number of items were found in the car, including a shotgun.