The body of Michael Wheeler, 37, lay undiscovered for weeks even though police were alerted to a distress call from his residence. On August 24, Avon and Somerset Police received an anonymous call reporting a man shouting “call the police” from a flat in Yeovil. When officers arrived, a man outside the property claimed to live there but refused to let them inside.
Over three weeks later, police received another anonymous tip indicating a dead body was at the same address. Despite investigations and multiple arrests, the body was eventually found in a derelict caravan on farmland in Yarlington on September 25, 2024.
Michael Wheeler had been murdered by Mark Roberts and David Garland in Roberts’ Yeovil flat on August 24 over a £100 dispute and a mistaken belief that Wheeler was a convicted paedophile.
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The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) report revealed that police were initially unable to enter the property despite hearing calls for help. Following the second tip-off, inquiries were conducted, and arrests were made, including one of the men who had blocked entry during the first visit. The body was only discovered shortly after these arrests.
The IOPC independently investigated the police sergeant’s response to the initial call, following a mandatory conduct referral from Avon and Somerset Police. The investigation, which concluded in March, is currently being communicated to all involved parties.