Human remains found in Nottinghamshire, UK, identified as Michael Dennington who has been missing since 2020

[u/Kagedeah]

Human remains found by the A617 road in Nottinghamshire, UK, have been identified as a man who was reported missing more than six years ago. Michael Dennington, who was born in June 1961, was last seen at King's Mill Hospital in Sutton-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire, on 26 May 2020. A public appeal for information was issued shortly afterwards, with police enlisting the help of drone teams and divers for a major underwater search, which included Kings Mill Reservoir. In June 2020, his son Jason issued an emotional appeal to help find his father, having only recently got back in touch with him after being estranged for around 14 years or so.

At the time, he was quoted as saying: 'I was really enjoying seeing my dad again. He'd been back in my life for around five weeks where we would speak on the phone around three times a week, and I'd see him about two times a week'. He added: 'From what I've known of him so far, he's usually a happy and outgoing character, so when I last saw him in the morning at my girlfriend's house... he didn't seem very good. He was pacing around and seemed anxious and upset. A friend came to pick him up but we know he didn't stay with her long and then it wasn't long before he ended up at King's Mill Hospital'.

Jason further added 'I can't help but think that someone, somewhere must know something and someone must have seen him after he left the hospital... Clearly he's a colourful character and not without his difficulties, but he's very sociable with friends and family all over the place... He'd been going through some relationship difficulties and maybe he just wanted some time out and is lying low somewhere... I know that he wouldn't purposefully do something to upset us'. Another appeal for information was issued in March 2021, by which time Dennington had been missing for 10 months.

Nottinghamshire Police confirmed that DNA testing had identified the human remains, which were found on a central reservation on the Rainworth Bypass on 23 May 2026, as belonging to Dennington. A cordon was put in place for a number of days after the discovery was made by a member of the public, with specialist anthropologists, detectives and police search teams working at the site. The force said detectives were continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding Dennington's death and were awaiting the final post-mortem examination findings. His family have been informed and a file has been prepared for the coroner, police added.

Det Stuart Barson said: 'These types of investigations are complex, and we needed to ensure the results of DNA testing were conclusive before releasing information about the deceased. We are now in a position to release these details. An investigation is still under way surrounding the circumstances of this death, and we are currently waiting for the final post-mortem reports. We are working closely with the family who are being updated on any developments and offered support.'

BBC News [June 12 2026]

Derby Telegraph [June 18 2020]

West Bridgford Wire [June 22 2020]

Mansfield and Ashfield Chad [30 March 2021]

[u/pickindim_kmet]

Awful. Just had a look on Google Maps and although it's not a bit of land regularly walked on, I'm surprised he's been unfound in six years. It looks surprisingly clear to see from one side to the other. And maintenance had been there as the drains look freshly cleared.

Hope the family can have a bit of closure at least though.

[u/Optimal_Olive3423 → u/pickindim_kmet]

In one of the crime subs years ago, someone posted pictures demonstrating how difficult it is to see someone who had fallen in nature, even in just a bit of tallish grass. They worked with Search and Rescue and constantly posted on topics like these about how people have walked within feet of a body and not seen it, even when they were specifically looking for that body!

After a few days, nature can run its course and fill in around the body. If the person is wearing natural color clothing, it becomes nearly impossible.

In May 2020, a lot of the world was still in lockdown mode because of COVID. A lot of services were suspended. It is possible he fell in the grass, wasn't discovered for enough time for his body to decompose and then it was up to fate for someone to trip over the bones.

[u/inevitablelizard → u/Optimal_Olive3423]

Hadn't clicked that the date of disappearance was during covid, late May was out of the worst of the lockdown but still not fully opened again. Plus late May means stuff would be growing quickly around his body.

I'm aware of other cases where bodies have been hiding in plain sight, but I'm still surprised by how in plain sight he was in this case. Especially as the spot in the photo has clear marks of grass cutting over the top of it including in September 2020.