UPDATED: A manhunt has been launched after a woman was found dead at a Bridlington hotel. Police are desperately trying to track down John Heald, 53, from South Yorkshire, as part of a murder investigation.
Officers were called to the Morayland Hotel, in Marshall Avenue, shortly before midnight on Friday. A woman was found dead after suffering critical injuries.
She is yet to be formally identified but is believed to be aged 49 and from Bridlington.
Detectives believe Mr Heald, who was a resident at the hotel, is connected with the death. They urgently want to trace him and are warning people not to approach him.
The Morayland Hotel was cordoned off today. Kevin Parker, who lives opposite, said he saw emergency services at 1.45am this morning.
He said: "I was up making a coffee when I suddenly saw these blue lights flashing. That was the first I knew something had happened.
"It is bedlam today and there are so many police, it looks like a scene from The Bill. They are checking litter bins and the post box nearby."![]()
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'BEDLAM': Top, neighbour Kevin Parker. Above, the Morayland Hotel. Pictures: Simon Kench.
Forensic teams are continuing to scour the property and the Mail understands the body is still inside. Two police offers are guarding the property while investigations continue. Dave Ellis, 64, lives opposite the Morayland Hotel. He said: "We saw Mr Heald turn up yesterday at about 3pm and he left the hotel at 4.30pm. But I didn't hear anything later on. "It was a huge shock to everyone when we heard what had happened. "You don't expect something like this to happen in your street. We only set up a residents' action group in the area a year ago." Gerry Harran runs the Tamarind Guest House, also in Marshall Avenue. He said: "I have run the guest house here for 25 years. It is normally a quiet street although a bit busier in summer. "We only average 28 call-outs to the police a month and the most serious problem we had last month was a beggar on the street. "It is a close-knit community round here and most people know each other." Cheryl Harper, 30, lives next door with partner Luke Wood and their two children. She said: "We are gutted by what had happened, it is very upsetting. It's so scary to think something like this has happened on our doorstep. "I just feel for the family of the victim. "We know the owners of the hotel very well and they are a lovely couple. "It us scary to think the killer is still at large. He could be absolutely anywhere." The Morayland has around 14 bedrooms and can accommodate 30-40 guests. Other guest houses have rallied round to take in the guests. A group of ten lads from Leeds were due to stay there during a stag weekend. One of the group, who wished to remain anonymous, said: "One of the group got there first and said there were police all around. We thought he was joking. "So it was a big shock when we turned up realised what had happened. There are now six of us in one guest house and four in another."
Senior Investigating Officer Detective Chief Inspector Matt Baldwin said: "It is imperative that we locate John Heald as soon as possible and I would appeal to him to make contact with us urgently.
"If anyone has been contacted by Mr Heald or knows anything about his whereabouts, I would ask them to do the right thing, do not be swayed by a misguided sense of loyalty, ring the police now.
"I am appealing particularly to people such as taxi drivers, hitchhikers, those using buses or trains, as I believe he may have tried to leave the area and could now be well away from East Yorkshire.
"Any members of the public who may see Mr Heald should not approach him as he is considered dangerous but should ring the police immediately on 999, as should anyone who thinks they might have seen him since the police were first alerted to the death at midnight."
Mr Heald is white, slim, with short, grey hair. When last seen he was wearing smart jeans and had a distinctive diamond stud earring in his right ear.
Anyone with information should contact Humberside Police immediately on 01377 208989.
'BEDLAM': Top, neighbour Kevin Parker. Above, the Morayland Hotel. Pictures: Simon Kench.Forensic teams are continuing to scour the property and the Mail understands the body is still inside. Two police offers are guarding the property while investigations continue. Dave Ellis, 64, lives opposite the Morayland Hotel. He said: "We saw Mr Heald turn up yesterday at about 3pm and he left the hotel at 4.30pm. But I didn't hear anything later on. "It was a huge shock to everyone when we heard what had happened. "You don't expect something like this to happen in your street. We only set up a residents' action group in the area a year ago." Gerry Harran runs the Tamarind Guest House, also in Marshall Avenue. He said: "I have run the guest house here for 25 years. It is normally a quiet street although a bit busier in summer. "We only average 28 call-outs to the police a month and the most serious problem we had last month was a beggar on the street. "It is a close-knit community round here and most people know each other." Cheryl Harper, 30, lives next door with partner Luke Wood and their two children. She said: "We are gutted by what had happened, it is very upsetting. It's so scary to think something like this has happened on our doorstep. "I just feel for the family of the victim. "We know the owners of the hotel very well and they are a lovely couple. "It us scary to think the killer is still at large. He could be absolutely anywhere." The Morayland has around 14 bedrooms and can accommodate 30-40 guests. Other guest houses have rallied round to take in the guests. A group of ten lads from Leeds were due to stay there during a stag weekend. One of the group, who wished to remain anonymous, said: "One of the group got there first and said there were police all around. We thought he was joking. "So it was a big shock when we turned up realised what had happened. There are now six of us in one guest house and four in another."
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