Adelaide man Michael Jeffrey Purse believed murdered by three men whose car got bogged as they tried to dump body
A good Samaritan may unwittingly hold the key to the disappearance and suspected murder of Adelaide man Michael Jeffrey Purse, whose body is believed to have been in the boot of a car that got bogged while the killers tried to dump it.
Police & Courts
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Michael Jeffrey Purse was lured to a home in Kilburn and allegedly murdered by three men in February 2019, Superintendent Des Bray said.
Mr Purse, of no fixed address, was confirmed missing on April 24, 2019, by a concerned friend, who had not seen or heard from him since February that year.
Detective Superintendent Des Bray said the investigation has led them to the Kilburn address.
On February 6 2019, Mr Purse attended the Casino and was believed to be lured to the address and murdered.
“He was in conflict and had some personal dispute with a person we believe may have been involved in a subsequent murder,” Det-Supt Bray said.
“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.”
Det-Supt Bray said the body was placed in the boot of a dark green Daewoo just after 4.30am on February 6 and driven north of Adelaide towards the Adelaide Plains \.
An unknown number of people in the car intended to dispose of it, but their car became bogged on a dirt road. It remained there for some time until a passer-by assisted them.
“The offenders then realised it was too late to dispose of his body because the sun was up, they returned to the unit with Michael’s body still in the boot, where we believe it remained throughout the day.”
In the early hours of Friday in the same week, the offenders drove north into the Adelaide Plains to dispose of the body. The whereabouts of the body remains unknown.
Det-Supt Bray said it was crucial to speak with the person who helped the offenders out of the bog.
“That person will be able to provide critical information in terms of the time, the exact location, the number of people in the car and I’ve got no doubt we will be able to identify the people in the car.
Two of the suspects are currently in prison on unrelated charges, while the third remains free.
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.
Leading up to Mr Purse’s disappearance he was subject to a number of assaults, including a kidnapping, police say.
Supt Bray said it was crucial to locate the body for the investigation.
“The arrests are important, but we don’t want this to be another case where the family hadn’t had their loved one returned to them so they can have a proper funeral and bury them.”
Anyone with information related to the incident is encouraged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or www.crimestopperssa.com.au