Warwickshire Police have launched a murder investigation after the body of a man was discovered in the River Leam at Victoria Park in Leamington Spa on Wednesday 15 April 2026.
The victim has been identified as Adam Lucas, a man in his 50s. His family has released a statement expressing that they are shocked and heartbroken by the sudden passing of their beloved father, grandfather, brother, uncle, and cousin. They have asked the public to keep him in their thoughts and prayers while the family navigates this difficult time.
The discovery was made shortly before 7:45am on 15 April when a member of the public spotted the man in the water near Princes Drive. While the death was initially treated as unexplained, a post-mortem examination carried out on Thursday 17 April established that Mr. Lucas died from injuries consistent with an assault, prompting police to open a murder investigation.
Detective Inspector Gareth Unett, who is leading the investigation, has appealed for anyone with information to come forward. Investigators are specifically asking for witnesses who may have seen or heard anything suspicious in the Victoria Park area from late Tuesday evening into Wednesday morning. As part of the ongoing enquiries, police officers have been reviewing CCTV footage and maintaining a visible presence in the park to provide reassurance to the community.
On Sunday 19 April, police divers from the Underwater Search Unit conducted a search of the river as part of the evidence-gathering process. Members of the public who may have information that could assist the investigation are asked to contact Warwickshire Police and quote incident number 68 of 15 April.
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