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Pupil Found Dad's Body on School Field
19 Aug
Summary
- Dad's body discovered by 11-year-old student at Smestow Academy.
- Inquest heard death may be linked to e-bike crash in bad weather.
- Cause of fatal injuries remains unknown despite investigation.
The circumstances surrounding the death of Neil Thompson, 45, remain a mystery following the discovery of his body by an 11-year-old pupil at Smestow Academy in Wolverhampton. Thompson's body was found on the school's playing fields on January 19 of this year, prompting an initial homicide investigation.
An inquest revealed that Thompson died from aspiration of blood due to traumatic facial and head injuries. While a post-mortem indicated blunt-force trauma, consistent with a fall or assault, police believe he may have been thrown from his e-bike on an uneven canal towpath during adverse weather conditions. CCTV footage confirmed his presence on the towpath earlier that night, but no evidence of a struggle or other individuals was found.
Investigators could not determine how Thompson reached the school grounds from the towpath, as there was no clear evidence of him scaling a fence. Despite extensive forensic and CCTV analysis, the exact cause of his fatal injuries and how he transitioned from the towpath to the school remains unknown. The Black Country Area Coroner recorded a narrative conclusion, stating the circumstances of his injuries were not understood.
