Blue coat & abandoned Fiat -how case of missing psychiatrist was only solved 12 years on when another man met same fate

Both men were well prepared and experienced hikers
CHILLING ECHOES Blue coat & abandoned Fiat -how case of missing psychiatrist was only solved 12 years on when another man met same fate
THE MYSTERY of a missing doctor who vanished in a Welsh national park has finally been solved twelve years later.
Psychiatrist Shayne Eves Colaco went for a walk in the Carneddau mountains in Eryri - also called Snowdonia - when he disappeared.
5
Rescue teams out searching for Shayne Colaco in the Welsh mountains
Credit: Daily Post Wales
5
The search for David Brookfield led to the discovery of another missing walker
Credit: Daily Post Wales
5
Shayne Eves Colaco's remains were found in Snowdonia after twelve years
Credit: Daily Post Wales
He drove from Stoke-on-Trent in the summer of 2012 and set off walking towards 3,209ft Pen yr Ole Wen.
But he didn't return to his Fiat car and was never seen again.
Despite searches, cops couldn't find him and he was declared dead six six later, despite his body remaining undiscovered.
Fast forward to January last year, when David Brookfield, 65, also vanished in the Welsh Carneddau mountains.
He WhatsApped his wife from the summit of Carnedd Llewelyn, but no one ever heard from him again.
For four months, searches were carried out to no avail.
But in May 2024, a blue jacket was sighted in the Ogwen Valley by a passing coastguard helicopter on a routine training exercise.
It is believed David had fallen in a gully and was seriously injured on his descent from the mountain.
While his body was recovered, mountain rescue made another change discovery.
They spotted another jacket further down the gully, that looked far older and seemed to have been there for some time.
Sgt Paul Terry of the North Wales Police drone unit recalled to North WalesLive:
'The jacket didn't seem to fit with the picture of what we were investigating. It was an older jacket, one that seemed to have been there for some time and inside the pocket was a car key.
'Deep in the memory of this rescue team was Shayne Colaco, who had gone missing in the same area 12 years earlier.'
As the cops investigated further, they were "amazed" to find that the details matched up with the missing hiker.
So they resumed the search for Shayne in another bid to find him and bring peace to his family.
A drone pilot then noticed a piece of fabric under a bush in the gully.
Sgt Terry continued: 'Quite incredibly, [he] realised that he had also discovered the remains of Shayne Colaco.
'What's really so amazing about this story is that so many of the people involved in searching for David had also been involved in the searches 12 years before for Shayne."
David and Shane were both experienced walkers who were well prepared, and Sgt Terry warned hikers that it's important to understand the danger of the hills and weather.
5
The peak of Pen yr Ole Wen is seen in the distance
Credit: Getty

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

BBC News

8 hours ago

• BBC News

Eryri police find bodies of men missing years apart in same spot

It was a mystery that left detectives baffled after a 33-year-old doctor vanished without a trace while walking in Eryri National in August 2012 Shayne Colaco, 33, from Stoke-on-Trent, had been hiking in the Carneddau range in north Wales when he did not return to his car. He was not seen the time, the experienced hiker's disappearance sparked an extensive operation by air and on foot, with the search described by experts as a "needle in a haystack" in the Ogwen was not until 12 years later that a vital clue led to the discovery of Mr Colaco's body in May 2024, only metres away from fellow hiker David Brookfield who had disappeared months before the discovery and died while walking in the same area. Mr Brookfield, 65, from Skelmersdale, Lancashire, had been walking alone on 9 January 2024 when he went Wales Police said Mr Brookfield had sent a text to his wife from the top of Carnedd Llewelyn, but no further contact was ever received. The experienced walker had intended to complete an "amazing" 15km (nine mile) route in good weather, police said, but with forecasts that it would deteriorate throughout the is believed he entered the broad mouth of a gully during his descent from his final summit at Pen yr Ole Wen when he fell and became seriously "extensive searches in challenging winter weather conditions", Mr Brookfield could not be found."The weather worsened, snow continued to fall... after the first couple of weeks we realised there wasn't any more we could do from the ground," said Sgt Paul Terry, of North Wales Police. Four months after his disappearance, coastguard helicopter crews discovered Mr Brookfield's body after seeing a glimpse of blue while carrying out a routine training exercise through the Ogwen was during his recovery that volunteers also located a single item of clothing that led them to find the remains of Mr Colaco. Sgt Terry, who assisted the rescue of the two bodies, said the circumstances were "exceptional" as many of the volunteers working on the rescue were involved in the initial search for Mr Colaco 12 years of the winchmen who located Mr Brookfield from the helicopter was also part of RAF squadron looking for Mr Colaco."It shows the amazing willingness and determination of volunteers and the emergency services to find both these men."Sgt Terry said it was while investigating Mr Brookfield's death that a mountain rescue team member found a jacket about 5m (16ft) further down the gully. "The jacket didn't seem to fit with the picture of what we were investigating. It was an older jacket, one that seemed to have been there for some time and inside the pocket was a car key," he said. "Deep in the memory of this rescue team was Shayne Colaco, who had gone missing in the same area 12 years earlier."Sgt Terry said he was "amazed" to find the jacket was very similar to the one Mr Colaco was wearing on the day he went missing. Further investigations then confirmed the key in the pocket was the key to his car, a Fiat Seicento."Suddenly, we realised we may have a clue as to where he may have been all this time." A mountain rescue drone operator then helped find Mr Colaco's body. It is now believed his descent from the summit of Pen yr Ole Wen took the same fatal turn as Mr Brookfield's. Sharing the tragic story, Sgt Terry voiced his condolences to the men's families and friends, as well as warning of the dangers of walking in Eryri, also known as Snowdonia. He said both men ended up in very dangerous ground, "which might have seemed inviting from the summit, but as it got steeper and more broken, it became harder"."It's important to understand the scale of these hills and the impact of weather – and how quickly it can change," he said. "We want you to come and enjoy these beautiful mountains in Eryri, it is amazing, but come and be safe and enjoy it."And so, I have a very simple safety message - be prepared."

Wales Online

9 hours ago

• Wales Online

Pile of dangerous rubbish dumped in a Welsh car park

Pile of dangerous rubbish dumped in a Welsh car park A man has been fined, after pleading guilty to two offences under the Environment Protection Act The hazardous materials were dumped near a public area (Image: Ceredigion Council ) A builder who carelessly dumped hazardous asbestos waste near a public area has been fined following a hearing at Aberystwyth Justice Centre. Ashley Ciminera, 37, had been carrying out roof replacement work at warehouse in Cardigan in June 2023, the hearing heard. The Ceredigion local later discarded broken asbestos roofing sheets from the Teifi Warehouse on Morgan Street, Cardigan, in a nearby public car park. During the process of removing the sheets, pieces of the material also fell onto cars parked below, causing damage. ‌ The debris, which included shattered corrugated asbestos roofing, was left uncontained and close to a pavement. Don't miss a court report by signing up to our crime newsletter here ‌ Asbestos, when damaged or improperly handled, can release microscopic fibres into the air. These fibres are known to lodge deep in the lungs and are linked to serious illnesses, including asbestosis and cancer. The pile of rubbish contained asbestos - infamously linked to serious illnesses, including asbestosis and cancer (Image: Ceredigion Council ) Regulations require asbestos to be removed intact, double-wrapped in heavy duty plastic and securely disposed of to prevent exposure. Article continues below Ciminera failed to follow these rules. Fragments of the hazardous material fell during removal, and instead of containing and safely disposing the debris, he left it in an open area accessible to the public. At a hearing on April 29, he pleaded guilty to two offences under the Environment Protection Act 1990; depositing controlled waste without a permit and treating waste in a way likely to cause pollution or harm to human health. Following this, on May 14, Ciminera was fined £200 for each offence. He was also ordered to pay a £160 victim subcharge and £150 in prosecution costs, totalling £710. ‌ The court acknowledged his poor health and that his building and roofing business had been dissolved in late 2023. Ceredigion County Council has strongly criticised the incident. Councillor Matthew Vaux, Cabinet Member responsible for Public Protection, said: "I am appalled by the brazen disregard shown to the general public by this offender. This case shows that anyone found mishandling hazardous waste will face strict penalties. Article continues below "This prosecution serves as a clear warning to all individuals and organisations that the careless or deliberate mismanagement of dangerous materials will not be tolerated. "We remain committed to enforcing environmental regulations to protect public health and the environment."

Powys County Times

18 hours ago

• Powys County Times

Cocaine courier found with drugs in BMW in Powys sentenced

A drug addicted cocaine courier who brought in almost £5,000 worth of drugs into Wales has been spared an immediate jail term. Police stopped Reece Williams, 24, in Llangedwyn, north Powys, with nearly 28 grams of cocaine in the driver's side of the BMW he was driving after collecting the package from Birmingham in July 2023. The Pwllheli man was jailed for 18 months, suspended for 18 months, after admitting possessing with intent to supply cocaine and being concerned in the supply of the Class A drug. Sentencing, Williams at Caernarfon Crown Court on Thursday, June 19, Judge Nicola Jones said: "You clearly were trusted bringing almost £5,000 of cocaine into the country but I accept that you had limited financial gain from a drug to which you were addicted." Prosecution barrister Dafydd Roberts said messages on seized mobile phones showed Williams had been involved with dealing drugs over a two-week period between June 25 and July 8, 2023. The court was told that the street value of seized drugs was between £4,800 and £6,075. "In fairness to the defendant, he was selling at a cost price and there is no suggestion that he was making an advantage with the amount," Mr Roberts said. Williams had admitted to police that the drug found in his car was cocaine and that he was a regular user. It took 19 months before Williams was charged in February this year which the prosecuting barrister said the delay was not the defendant's fault but "due to the volume of work for North Wales Police". 'Sheer desperation' Williams' barrister Richard Edwards said the 24-year-old's life has changed "dramatically" since his arrest. "He fell into the unfortunate and all familiar trap of ever-increasing addiction to drugs and debts that led to homelessness and the supply of drugs which he was addicted to and taking in some considerable amount," Mr Edwards explained. "He says his involvement was not brought about from threats but from his sheer desperation and hopeless situation that he found himself. "He was arrested after travelling from Birmingham with drugs which were bound for North Wales. "The arrest was the wake up call the defendant needed. He had been homeless, sleeping on friends' sofas, mixing in an environment where drug taking was a daily routine. "He has moved out of the area and stopped mixing with those people. "He is now a mobile mechanic who is slowly building up a business in Birmingham and North Wales. He's trying to increase work in North Wales because that is where he hopes to settle in future. "He is taking it slowly because he is not taking these proceedings lightly. He doesn't want to let people down should the worst happen to this young man who is showing good insight and empathy for others." Mr Edwards said he had remained abstinent from drugs, adding: "Rehabilitation has no doubt been assisted by the probation service following motoring matters in the magistrates' court. "He complied with the order and there were no breach proceedings. He has clearly taken in the input that probation has been able to provide." 'Turned your life around' Judge Jones told Williams that she considered him an "immature individual" at the time of his offending because "men's brains do not fully develop until they are 25 years old". "You have shown to the court that you are capable of rehabilitation because in the time of the delay of this case you have not committed further offences and got yourself working and turned your life around,' the judge said. "There will be no punitive element. This is a prison sentence albeit suspended which is a sufficient punishment for you. "This young man has taken great steps to set himself in business and I don't want that to crush him financially."