Crimestoppers is offering up to £20,000 for information about the death of Adam Lucas, 51, found in the river in Victoria Park on 15 April. The reward runs to 13 January.

The charity Crimestoppers is offering a reward of up to £20,000 for information about the death of Adam Lucas, whose body was found in the river in Victoria Park, Leamington, in April. Warwickshire Police announced the reward on Wednesday 14 October, as the investigation nears six months.

The reward is for information given anonymously that leads to the conviction of those responsible. It is valid until 13 January 2027.

Some reports today put the reward at £200,000. The force’s statement says up to £20,000.

What the police have said

Mr Lucas was 51. The force said his body was recovered from the river in Victoria Park at around 7.45am on 15 April. A post-mortem examination found he had died from injuries consistent with being assaulted.

Detectives from the force’s Major Investigation Unit are still talking to people in and around Leamington. The force said five people have been arrested so far:

  • a 27-year-old man from Birmingham, arrested on suspicion of murder and bailed
  • a 44-year-old woman from Leamington, arrested on suspicion of murder and bailed
  • a 43-year-old man from Leamington, arrested on suspicion of murder and bailed
  • a 23-year-old woman from Birmingham, first arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender and later on suspicion of murder, and bailed
  • a 53-year-old man from Leamington, arrested on suspicion of murder and released with no further action

Nobody has been charged. Being arrested or bailed does not mean a person is guilty of any offence.

The Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Inspector Gareth Unett, said: “We’re determined to make sure those responsible are brought to justice and we’re confident someone knows what happened. We understand there may be reasons people have felt unable to speak to police, which is why we are urging people with information to consider contacting Crimestoppers anonymously.”

He added: “No matter how small or insignificant it may seem, your information could be the missing piece that helps us establish the truth about what happened to Adam and provide answers for his loved ones.”

Alan Edwards, West Midlands Regional Manager at Crimestoppers, said: “We believe there may be people who have information about what happened, but for whatever reason have not yet felt able to speak up.”

What it means for you

If you were in or near Victoria Park around mid April, or have heard anything about what happened to Mr Lucas, the police want to hear it, however small it seems.

To give information and stay eligible for the reward:

  • call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 and ask for a reward code when you call
  • or use the Crimestoppers online form, choose the “Keep in contact” option, and ask for a reward code on your first contact

The force’s statement sets out the conditions:

  • the reward is only paid for information passed directly to Crimestoppers, not to the police
  • it is valid until 13 January 2027
  • Crimestoppers says it never traces computer IP addresses and never records calls, and it has no caller display or 1471 facility

You can still pass information to Warwickshire Police directly, but that will not qualify for the reward.