The remains of a beloved grandfather who went missing 13 years ago have been discovered. Kevin Judge, a former miner, vanished from the Lupset area of Wakefield, West Yorkshire, in April 2013 at the age of 68. He was last seen after being dropped off at his residence by a taxi following a visit to Wakefield city center. When his daughter checked on him the next day, he was nowhere to be found.
This week, West Yorkshire Police informed Mr. Judge’s family, who had feared foul play, that there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding his demise. Mr. Judge’s remains were located in January in a wooded area off Kiln Lane between Clayton West and Emley, near Huddersfield, and were identified through dental records and a set of house keys found at the site.
His daughter, Louise Wilson, expressed a sense of closure upon finally learning the fate of her father. She described him as a humorous man who enjoyed frequenting pubs in Wakefield and was known for his wit. Ms. Wilson speculated that her father, who may have been in the early stages of dementia, ended up in the woodland near Emley unexpectedly, as it was not part of his usual routine.
Following the discovery of the remains, Ms. Wilson quickly recognized her father. The family is now preparing for a funeral and anticipates a coroner’s inquest into his passing. In a social media post, Ms. Wilson disclosed the identification of her father’s remains and expressed gratitude to everyone who had searched for him over the years.
West Yorkshire Police confirmed the identification of the remains and stated that no suspicious circumstances were found in connection with Mr. Judge’s death. Detective Superintendent Damian Roebuck expressed hope that this development would provide some closure to Mr. Judge’s family after years of uncertainty. A file will be prepared for the coroner to proceed with the necessary formalities.
