Three men arrested, charged with murder over disappearance of Michael Purse

Three men have been charged with murder over the death of a man who has been missing for two years.

Three men have been arrested over the 2019 murder of Michael Purse, who was allegedly lured to a western suburbs unit before he was killed.

Mr Purse’s body has still not been found – but Major Crime Detectives located the men at three properties in Adelaide, Northfield and Prospect on Wednesday and charged them with murder.

Michael Jeffrey Purse is missing and believed to have been murdered.

Michael Jeffrey Purse was murdered in 2019, police say.

The men, a 39-year-old from Adelaide Plains, a 36-year-old from Kilburn and a 24-year-old of no fixed address, were all refused bail and expected to face court on Wednesday afternoon.

Police said they had conducted “extensive searches in various locations” across South Australia for Mr Purse’s body but had yet to find it. The search for his body will continue.

Mr Purse was last seen at Adelaide Casino on February 6, 2019, and was reported missing on April 24 after a concerned friend was worried he had not heard from him.

Police believe he was lured to a Kilburn unit where he was later killed.

Major Crime detectives and SES search a property in Pinkerton Plains, north of Adelaide, in May last year over the suspected murder of Michael Purse. Picture: AAP / David Mariuz

Detective Superintendent Des Bray last year said Mr Purse was “in conflict and had some personal dispute with a person we believe may have been involved in a subsequent murder”.

“In the early hours of the morning he was killed by some of the occupants.

“At the time of his death we believe there were three males present, and a couple of females, and three or more of those people played a role in his death, and others may have assisted either after in clean-ups, or assisted in the disposal of his body.”

Major Crime detectives search a property in Pinkerton Plains, north of Adelaide in May last year over the death of Michael Purse. Picture: AAP / David Mariuz

Det-Supt Bray said Mr Purse’s body was put in the boot of a dark green Daewoo Lanos at about 4.30am on February 7, 2019, and driven north of Adelaide before the car became bogged.

Two unwitting passers-by helped the occupants of the car free it from the mud, at which point the sun had risen.

Det-Supt Bray believed Mr Purse’s body was then driven back to the Kilburn unit and kept in the boot of the car before it was driven into the Adelaide Plains to be dumped the next day.

The suspects were described as friends or associates of Mr Purse, or members of the drug community.

Mr Purse was involved in low-level drug dealing and drug use and was committing thefts and frauds to help support his addiction.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or report on line at www.crimestopperssa.com.au – you can remain anonymous.