Corpse found in B&Q car park had been there for months

Alarm raised after shopper noticed smell coming from van

You read stories regularly where a body has lain undiscovered for a period of time but it is usually someone who lived alone who did not have many visitors and where eventually found at their home address. This was different as it was in a vehicle at a busy car park near Inverness city centre. Despite that no one had noticed that the vehicle had not moved for weeks. A front page splash from my early days at the Highland News and Inverness Courier.

COMMUNITY leaders have spoken of their shock at the discovery of a man’s body which had reportedly lain undiscovered for months inside a van parked outside B&Q. 

Police sealed off an area next to the DIY store, off Longman Road in Inverness, on Monday afternoon after the remains were found in a camper van close to the store’s trade entrance. 

The death is not being treated as suspicious and the man is not believed to be local. But while investigations continue, many are questioning how a body could go unnoticed in a public place for so long. 

It was only discovered after a member of the public detected a bad smell coming from a van and spotted flies around it.

Pat Hayden, chairwoman of Crown and City Centre Community Council, said the incident was “very sad” but added: “There is something not right that someone can be parked there for so long and not be noticed. 

“At the end of a night, when staff are locking up, there should be no cars left there, no vehicles at all. 

“The manager should have noticed it was sitting there the next day.” 

Inverness South councillor Duncan Macpherson said: “It’s a personal tragedy as the chap will have family and friends and people who knew him. I think it will be pretty alarming for B&Q staff too. 

“The surprising thing for me, knowing that car parks are checked all the time, is that they should have known someone was there.” 

Inverness Central councillor Bet McAllister agreed. 

“It’s absolutely horrendous,” she said. “I just don’t understand it at all, I really don’t.” 

As investigations continued yesterday, members of the public were equally incredulous. 

At the B&Q site retired trucker Sandy MacIntyre, from Inverness, said: “It’s shocking, really, and kind of sad. You wonder how this happened and why the staff never picked up on the van if it was there for a good while. 

“It’s a bit tragic, but people are so busy these days and maybe just don’t slow down and have a look around.” 

Staff within the B&Q store – where parking restrictions are in place – would not comment yesterday on how the car park was monitored. 

A spokeswoman said: “Our thoughts are with the family and friends affected by this news. As this incident is a police matter, we are unable to provide any further comment.” 

The car park is run by Total Parking Solutions who said it was contracted by B&Q to step in if there were any issues with vehicles, but it was the store’s responsibility to issue parking tickets and inform them of any concerns. 

A Police Scotland spokeswoman did not deny suggestions the body had been in situ for a significant period before being discovered. 

A report has been submitted to the procurator fiscal and a post mortem examination will be carried out.

“There is something not right that someone can be parked there for so long and not be noticed.” 

Pat Hayden 

From the Highland News on Thursday, July 18, 2019.

Mystery remains over car park body 

POLICE are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the death of a man who had reportedly lain undiscovered in a campervan in an Inverness car park for months. 

Officers sealed off an area next to the city’s B&Q DIY store, off Longman Road, for several hours on Monday afternoon after the remains were found in a campervan close to the store’s trade entrance. 

The death is not being treated by police as suspicious and the man is not believed to be local. 

The body was only discovered after a member of the public reportedly detected a bad smell coming from a van and spotted flies around it. 

Forensic investigators carried out an examination of the area before the van was later removed from the scene. 

Members of the public and community leaders have since spoken of their shock at the realisation that the man’s body had lain undiscovered for so long in a busy area of the city. 

Speaking yesterday a Police Scotland spokesman said no further details regarding the man’s identity were available and the force has previously not denied suggestions the body had been in situ for a significant period before being discovered. 

A report has been submitted to the procurator fiscal and a post mortem examination will be carried out.

From The Inverness Courier on  Friday, July 19, 2019.