Michael Foran: West Bromwich murder suspect still on the loose as manhunt continues
UK ports and Irish police are on alert as the search for June Jones' suspected killer continues.
The manhunt for 'extremely dangerous' murder suspect Michael Foran is continuing three days after June Jones was found dead.
Miss Jones was allegedly killed by her ex-boyfriend at her flat in West Bromwich, where the 33-year-old lay dead for at least five days before her body was found.
Tonight police revealed that they had charged a man with assisting her suspected killer.
Miss Jones had been reported missing by family members on Boxing Day but was only discovered when police broke into the flat on New Year's Eve - despite officers having visited on December 27 and December 28.
Police across the UK and Ireland are now desperately searching for her Foran, who is the only suspect in the frame for the 'horrific' attack and is still at large.
WATCH: Police appeal to find Foran
The 32-year-old had been living with Miss Jones at her Wyndmill Crescent flat before he allegedly carried out a 'brutal and sustained assault with a weapon'.
A post mortem did not reveal the medical cause of death but there was evidence she had been attacked with a weapon, which police now believe they have recovered.
Officers have so far refused to say what they believe was used to kill Miss Jones.
'Dead before she was reported missing'
Detective Inspector Warren Hines, of West Midlands Police's homicide investigations team, said Miss Jones had been dead 'for a period of time' before she was even reported missing on Boxing Day.
"Quite how long that could have been is nigh impossible to say really," he added.
"Only Michael Foran will know that with any certainty.
"My message to Foran is, he needs to do the decent thing. He is only delaying the inevitable by not handing himself in.
"He needs to hand himself in as a matter or urgency because we will find him. He's not going to be able to stay under the radar forever.
"June has potentially lost her life at the hands of somebody she should have been able to trust, in her own home, which is a place she should have been able to feel safe.
"In my view, it doesn't get any worse than that. The circumstances that she died in are just horrific."
Danger
Police believe Irish-native Michael Foran has fled to Liverpool, possibly in an attempt to cross the border and return to the south of Ireland.
Miss Jones' body was discovered when officers forced entry into her home, on the Charlemont Farm estate, at about 2am on December 31.
Foran has since travelled to Liverpool and was spotted at an Esso garage in the Anfield area of the city on New Year's Day.
The public are now being warned not to approach the 'dangerous' suspect and to immediately call police if they recognise the wanted man.
Det Insp Hines - who said the force has called on Merseyside Police, the Border Force and officers in Ireland for support - added: "We are really keen to speak to Foran, who has disappeared from West Bromwich.
"This is a direct appeal to the public that if they see this guy out and about, they shouldn't approach him.
"My assessment of him is that he is an extremely dangerous individual and if they do see him, they should call 999 immediately. If anyone has got any other information, they can phone me direct on 101.
"We are not aware of any contacts or family network that he may have in Liverpool. My guess is, if you were looking to return to southern Ireland, Liverpool is an ideal place to get a ferry perhaps."
IOPC
Det Insp Hines said he was not in a position to explain why it took officers five days to find Miss Jones' body after her sister reported her missing.
He also could not confirm if previous reports had been made to police about concerns over Foran's behaviour towards Miss Jones.
The force has since referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct, which will assess whether its response to the missing persons report was appropriate.
Det Insp Hines told the Express & Star: "I think they have had a bit of a difficult relationship. Certainly from what June's family are telling me, they have always feared that this may ultimately be how the relationship ended. She did have a difficult time.
"I think their relationship was like a lot of people's relationship - it had it's highs and it's lows.
Distraught
"We've got a picture of June, which shows her as a happy, vivacious, pretty, young girl, when times were clearly good.
"Looking at that picture just brings home to me what a sense of loss her family must be feeling.
"June's family are completely broken and distraught over what's happened. To lose a loved one, who's got her life ahead of her, in these circumstances, is really, really difficult.
"I think the only thing we are going to be able to do to help them move on from this is to find out where Foran is."
In a statement, June’s family said: “We’ve been left completely devastated by June’s death.
"We now need anyone who knows where Michael is to get in touch with the police as soon as possible.
“If he sees this appeal, we’d appeal to him directly to do the right thing and go to the nearest police station and hand himself in."
Detectives have been questioning a 34-year-old man who was arrested in West Bromwich on suspicion of assisting an offender on Thursday.
Det Insp Hines said officers believe the man may have helped Foran flee the Black Country, adding: "If there is anyone here or in Merseyside thinking about putting Foran up, giving him money, providing support to keep him out of our way, then they are liable for arrest.
"And, if the evidence exists that they have assisted him, I will look to prosecute them as well.
"With cases like this, while I understand the local community might be quite upset and saddened that something like this has happened in their area, it's important to remember the two parties were known to each other.
"While that doesn't make it any better, I would hope that would reassure local people that they are not at risk by going about their normal daily routine."
Anyone who sees Foran should call 999. Anyone with other information should contact police via Live Chat at west-midlands.police.uk, Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111, or 101, quoting log 26/12.
