The devastated sister of a dad missing in Benidorm has declared ‘my body is numb and my heart is broken’ after a body was found and a ‘murder investigation launched’. John George, also known as John Hardy, was reported missing on December 18 when he missed his flight home to spend the festive season with his two sons, 13 and six.
Courtney George spearheaded the search for her 37-year-old brother by setting up a GoFundMe to help family jet to Alicante, Spain, where he’d been holidaying. The family’s lawyer KRW Law confirmed the ‘extremely tortuous search process’ ended on January 7 when police told dad Billy George that a body believed to be his son’s has been found and a ‘murder investigation’ launched. They add the family are ‘distressed but also relieved’ by the harrowing news.
Courtney has since changed her profile picture to one of her and John with the touching caption ‘I love you forever and always’. She also sent a message to well wishers, saying ‘I don’t mean to be rude. I will get back to everyone soon. Right now I’m processing what’s going on. My body is numb and my heart is broken’.
READ MORE: Fit and healthy star dies, aged 56, after catching the flu
READ MORE: Richard Hammond and wife split after ‘amazing 28 years together’
John George, 37, went missing on holiday in Benidorm -Credit:Kennedy News and Media
Kevin Winters at KRW Law said: “We can confirm the father of Mr George contacted us shortly after 5pm (on January 7) to confirm Spanish police told him they had recovered his son’s remains. Mr Billy George was told that his son’s body was now in a morgue awaiting formal identification. The family are both distressed but also relieved at this latest news. It brings to an end an extremely tortuous search process for the body.
“The family want to thank all who have helped and supported them over the last number of days. They now respectfully ask for some privacy to allow them both time and space to engage on the next harrowing stages on what is now a formalised murder investigation.”
Before Christmas, Courtney had shared how close she and John were and why she was so worried that he’d not contacted his loving family. Courtney, from Belfast, Northern Ireland, said: “My brother would never go two days without speaking to me. I haven’t eaten in five days and have been physically sick because it’s been nine days without contact.
“He was meant to be coming to my house for Christmas dinner and we had our plans made. John is missing from Alicante to Benidorm so we need a search party out there to look for him.”
John George’s sister Courtney George -Credit:Kennedy News and Media
John’s brother Darren George is reported to have described him as a ‘happy-go-lucky guy’ who ‘had his troubles with drug addiction that took over his life’.
Courtney’s GoFundMe raised more than £26,000 to help the search. The Police Service of Northern Ireland say that on January 7 that it was made aware that a body recovered in Spain is believed to be John’s. Detective inspector Jennifer Rea said: “My thoughts are, first and foremost, with Mr George’s family at this distressing time. Our dedicated Family Liaison Officers continue to provide support to the family, and we continue to work closely with international law enforcement agencies.
“I am keen to reiterate our appeal for anyone with information that could assist the Spanish Investigation Team with their enquiries to please contact us on 101.”