E-bike Mystery: Dad Found Dead on School Field

West Midlands Police are intensifying their investigation into the death of Neil Thompson, 45, who was discovered on January 19 at Smestow Academy in Wolverhampton. An 11-year-old girl found Thompson's body on the school's grounds as she prepared for a physical education lesson.

An inquest revealed that Thompson died from aspiration of blood due to traumatic facial and head injuries. While police initially considered homicide, they now suspect the devastating injuries occurred when Thompson crashed his electric bicycle into a canal.

Adding to the mystery, Thompson's e-bike, heavily rusted, was later retrieved from a canal and left near a bridge. On what would have been Thompson's 46th birthday, police released images of the bike, seeking the individual who recovered it from the water.

Investigators believe Thompson departed on his e-bike around 8:17 PM on January 18 to visit a friend. CCTV footage shows him riding along a canal towpath at 1:26 AM the following morning. He was photographed in the school grounds around 7:15 AM, reportedly still alive at that point.

Pathologists indicated that Thompson's injuries were consistent with blunt-force trauma, potentially from a fall or assault. However, the prevailing theory points to the e-bike crash into the canal as the cause of his demise. His family has expressed deep love for him, remembering him as a cherished community member.