UPDATE: 1:30PM Thursday 1 MARCH 2012

Nathan has now been missing for five days.

Around 12.30 pm yesterday, Wednesday 29 February, a cruise ship passenger was snorkeling approximately 50mts off public beach, adjacent to the Calico Jack’s area, when he saw something glistening on the seabed.   When the man investigated he found that it was a cell phone. He retrieved the phone and intended to take it home as a keepsake of his visit to the Cayman Islands. However, when he discussed the matter with a member of staff in a local store he realised that the find may be significant to the ongoing search for Nathan Clarke. He immediately contacted the police and handed the phone over. Subsequent examinations confirmed that the phone is Nathan’s.

The area where the phone was found has formed part of the extended police search area and had been covered a number of times by the RCIPS marine teams and rescue divers. However, as those who frequent the seas in the area know, the strong tidal movements can cause items in the water, and on the seabed, to shift considerably within a very short period of time. RCIPS Marine teams will continue to search the area with a view to finding any other property which may assist in establishing what has happened to Nathan.

In addition, contact is being made with cruise ships which have visited Grand Cayman in the last five days. This is to ensure that no other property, which could be significant to the enquiry, has been retrieved by unsuspecting passengers and retained.

Today, Thursday 1 March 2012, police also provided clarification in relation to reports suggesting that a signal had been received from Nathan’s phone after he was last seen (approximately 8.30pm, Saturday 25 February). Records obtained from the telecommunications provider now confirm that the last call made from the phone was 8.07 – 8.09 pm on Saturday evening.  There was no further activity registered on that phone. The reported activity after he was last seen has now been confirmed as calls being made into Nathan’s phone from friends. None of those calls connected.

Detective Superintendent Marlon Bodden, the officer overseeing the enquiry into Nathan’s disappearance, said: “There has been a considerable amount of speculation by the public and through the media about what has happened to Nathan. Yesterday there was even a suggestion made that he had been abducted. I will stress yet again that there is no evidence at this stage to suggest that anything of a criminal nature has occurred. The speculation is extremely unhelpful and is causing further distress to Nathan’s family at this very difficult and emotional time.

“This is a ‘missing person enquiry’ and a considerable amount of RCIPS resources and assets have been dedicated to bringing about a successful resolution for his fiancée, friends and family.  Lisa, her parents and Nathan’s parents have been kept fully aware of all developments and are all fully supportive of the RCIPS, as well as the efforts of the scores of volunteers who have tirelessly assisted since Nathan went missing.

“However, we are now five days into the search, and while everyone involved remains hopeful, we have to be realistic and say that as time goes on the more concerned we are becoming about Nathan’s wellbeing.

“Our searches today will once again concentrate on the beach and sea area around where Nathan was last seen and we will of course immediately make his family aware of any further developments.”
 

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UPDATE: 8:AM Thursday 1 MARCH 2012

Nathan Clarke enquiry – cell phone recovered.

Nathan Clarke enquiry – cell phone recovered.

Officers searching for missing Teaching Assistant Nathan Clarke have confirmed that a cell phone was recovered on Wednesday afternoon in the ocean off public beach. The phone was found approximately 50 metres offshore and in approximately 10 feet of water.

Examination of the phone has confirmed it is Nathan’s.

Nathan’s partner and his family have been made aware of the development.

No further property has been recovered at this stage, and no trace of Nathan has been found despite extensive searches involving RCIPS officers and scores of civilian volunteers..

Further information will be made available in due course.