Murder Victim's Body Found After Weeks Despite Police Tip-Offs

Michael Wheeler, 37, was murdered on August 24, 2024, by Mark Roberts and David Garland in Yeovil over a mistaken belief that he was a convicted paedophile and a £100 dispute. Despite multiple anonymous tip-offs to Avon and Somerset Police, including urgent calls reporting someone shouting 'call the police' and later about a dead body at the same address, officers were unable to locate Wheeler's body at the scene. The police were initially denied entry by a man claiming to live at the property, and subsequent inquiries failed to find the body. It was only after several arrests that Wheeler's body was discovered over a month later in a derelict caravan on farmland in Yarlington. The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has since investigated the decisions and actions of the police sergeant who responded to the initial call, highlighting concerns over the handling of the case. The incident has raised questions about police response and follow-up procedures following tip-offs of potential harm.