The search for John George, a 37-year-old father of two from Belfast, ended in tragedy with his body discovered in Spain. George, known to his friends and family as John Hardy, had been missing since December after failing to return from a trip to Algeciras, a coastal town in southern Spain.
according to Sky NewsGeorge’s disappearance sparked widespread concern and led to an extensive search operation involving local authorities and volunteers. His body was discovered on January 6, 2025, after he was arrested in connection with his case.
Who was John George?
John George was a beloved father of two young children and a well-known member of the Belfast community. Described as a devoted family man, his sudden disappearance has left his loved ones distraught and desperately searching for answers.
George had traveled to Spain in mid-December to attend what he described as the “grand opening” of a business venture linked to an acquaintance. He last contacted his family on December 14, and was reported missing four days later when he failed to board a flight home.
Weeks of agonizing uncertainty
For weeks, George’s family endured a harrowing wait for news as searches in Spain yielded no leads. Their worst fears were confirmed when authorities found a body believed to be his. While this discovery brings some closure, the circumstances surrounding his death remain under investigation.
Authorities have confirmed the discovery of a body believed to be that of missing John George on January 6, 2025. The family of a missing Belfast man have expressed a mixture of distress and relief after the discovery of a body believed to be his.
The search ends in tragedy
Spanish police sources confirmed the arrest of a man in this case, as a 32-year-old man from Eastern Europe was detained. Police sources confirmed that their investigations are still ongoing and that they have not ruled out the possibility of making more arrests.
While the only arrest made so far has been on suspicion of murder, local reports indicate that the alleged perpetrator may have fled the area. Police can detain the man for up to 72 hours before bringing him before an investigating judge for further questioning.
A murder investigation was launched, and police in Northern Ireland, who were assisting their Spanish counterparts, issued appeals for information that could help locate George.
It is still located near Torrevieja
Spanish police informed relatives of the victims on Tuesday afternoon that a body had been found under trees on private property in a rural area near Rojales, about 45 minutes south of Alicante. An autopsy is scheduled to be conducted in the coming hours Belfast Telegraph.
I’ll have a full update on today’s progress in the search for John George/Hardy of Spain later, but for now I just want to say how amazing his family is, they are doing everything they can looking for their loved ones pic.twitter.com/1zehbySeNl
– Allison Morris (@AllisonMorris1) December 28, 2024
While formal identification is awaited, authorities believe the body, which was discovered with distinctive clothing and tattoos, is likely that of George, who has been missing since December 14. DNA testing will be crucial to identifying the remains of the 37-year-old father of two.
Bringing John George home
John George’s family are now making arrangements to return his remains to Northern Ireland for burial. A representative of KRW Law expressed his hope that this would end the “extremely arduous search process.”
They said: “We can confirm that Mr Jorge’s father contacted us today shortly after 5pm to confirm that Spanish police had informed him that they had found his son’s remains.” Mr Billy George has been told that his son’s body is now in the morgue awaiting formal identification.
“The family is saddened but also relieved by this latest news. It brings to an end a very painstaking search for the body. The family would like to thank everyone who has helped and supported them over the past days.
KRW Law added: “They now respectfully request some privacy to allow them the time and space to participate in the next horrific stages of what has now become a formal murder investigation.”