The body of missing man Jesus Moreno lay undiscovered for more than eight months because it was just outside the 500-metre police search area.
A police search team found Mr Moreno’s body on Friday on land close to the River Wharfe in the Harewood area.
He had been missing since August 1 last year when he got off a 36 bus from Leeds to Harrogate at Swindon Lane near Dunkeswick, just north of Harewood bridge.
The discovery of his body, close to the last sighting, came two weeks after West Yorkshire Police said it had “exhausted every possible line of enquiry”.
Asked why it had taken so long to find the body when it was so close to the last sighting, a police spokesperson said:
“Police can confirm the body of a man found in undergrowth on land close to the River Wharfe in the Harewood area on Friday has been identified as that of missing Jesus Moreno.
“A number of searches by specialist police search teams were undertaken in the Harewood area for Mr Moreno, as part of extensive enquiries conducted into his disappearance.
“The specialist search team initially set a search area of 500 metres radius from Jesus’ last known location. This area was searched with specialist resources.
“Mr Moreno’s body was found just over 250 metres outside that boundary and hidden under thick undergrowth, as part of ongoing work undertaken according to the wider search plan.”
The statement added that enquiries into the death remain ongoing but “there are not thought to be any suspicious circumstances”.
Police images of Jesus Moreno
Piglove Brewing Co, the Leeds brewery Mr Moreno co-founded, said in a statement on social media:
“It is with great sadness that the Piglove family announces that our beloved Jesus’ remains have been found near Harewood bridge, the last place he was seen on the 1st of August 2022.
“Please be thoughtful to our staff and family during this challenging time. It has been a tough eight months for the business but your support through this time has meant the world to us.
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Police find body at Harewood in search for missing Jesus Moreno
Police investigating the disappearance of Jesus Moreno have found the body of a male.
The body was found by a police search team yesterday afternoon on land close to the River Wharfe in the Harewood area.
West Yorkshire Police announced the discovery in a statement this afternoon. It added there were no suspicious circumstances. The statement added:
“The family of Mr Moreno have been informed of this development and enquiries are ongoing to confirm the identity of the deceased.”
Mr Moreno, 41, who worked at a Leeds brewery, was last seen more than eight months ago in August 2022.
A poster in Harrogate appealing for help
He was spotted on CCTV catching a 36 bus to Harrogate at Leeds bus station at 6.10am on Monday, August 1.
He got off the bus at Swindon Lane near Dunkeswick, just north of Harewood bridge on the A61, at 6.39am.
He was then seen on CCTV near the bridge at 8.14am.
Today’s news comes two weeks after West Yorkshire Police said it had “exhausted every possible line of enquiry” and issued a fresh appeal for help.
Police had searched the countryside and river near where Mr Moreno was last seen.
Drones were used and the family even used a psychic to try to help.
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Harewood Bridge set to close for repairs from July
Drivers on a main route in and out of Harrogate will face disruption this summer when Harewood Bridge closes in July.
Leeds City Council is planning to carry out resurfacing and maintenance work to the grade-II listed structure.
The bridge carries the A61 Harrogate Road over the River Wharfe and is a busy route between Harrogate and Leeds.
The move is expected to see the structure closed during the school holidays. However, a specific date and timeframe has yet to be confirmed.
A spokesperson for Leeds City Council said:
“The latest position is that we intend to carry out these important repairs during the school holiday period starting at the end of July, to minimise any disruption.
“We are currently reviewing all options and will be consulting widely including with North Yorkshire County Council, parish councils and other key stakeholders on our proposals and the diversionary routes required.
“Once a timetable is confirmed we will be updating the local communities with as much notice as possible so residents and businesses can plan ahead.”
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Search continues for missing man last seen on A61 near Harewood bridge
Searches are continuing for missing man Jesus Moreno who disappeared more than two weeks ago after catching a bus bound for Harrogate.
The brewer was spotted on CCTV catching a 36 bus from Leeds bus station at 6.10am on Monday, August 1.
He got off the bus at Swindon Lane near Dunkeswick, just north of Harewood bridge on the A61, at 6.39am. He was then seen on CCTV near the bridge at 8.14am.
Images released by West Yorkshire Police of missing man Jesus Moreno
A spokesperson for West Yorkshire Police today said there have been no further sightings of him since then and officers are continuing to appeal for information from anyone who may have seen him.
The 41-year-old’s family, friends and colleagues at Piglove Brewing Co have continued to post on social media to try to trace him. Posters have also appeared around Harrogate asking people to check their CCTV and dashcam footage from the Harewood area on Monday, August 1.
In a video posted to the company’s social media accounts, they said:
“We need to ask you now not just to think if you’ve seen him, but we need you to look at your CCTV throughout the week from Monday, August 1 all the way up to today.
“If you live anywhere near the Harewood bridge, anywhere near the A61, Netherby, Weeton, East Keswick, these types of places, we’re calling out for people now.
“We’ve got to get our brother home safe.”
Last Monday, a week after his disappearance, police said they were concerned for Jesus’s welfare and were going to begin searching the areas near where he was last seen.
Anyone with information can call West Yorkshire Police on 101 quoting reference 13220422334.
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