The mother of a Latvian man who disappeared under suspicious circumstances in late 2024 has issued a heartfelt plea to the public, begging for any information that could lead to the recovery of her son’s body.
Maris Ile, 54, a Latvian national residing in King’s Lynn, Norfolk, was last seen in November 2024. In March this year, Norfolk Police escalated the case to a no-body murder investigation, believing that Maris had likely come to harm. Despite months of investigations and arrests, his remains have yet to be found.
Now, his distraught mother, Galina, has come forward publicly in the hope that someone will break their silence.
“I am begging, if you know something, if you’ve seen Maris, please report it to the police,” Galina said in a statement through Norfolk Constabulary.
“This is very important to me. If he is no longer alive, then I would like the police to find his body, so he can be cremated and brought back home to Latvia, so he could rest on Latvian soil, so he could be buried with his father in the cemetery.”
“I would be very grateful if you could provide any information to the police who are searching for him.”
According to investigators, Maris was in regular contact with his family in Latvia and had shown no signs of cutting off communication. His sudden disappearance, without warning or any personal belongings, raised alarm among loved ones and eventually prompted a major police inquiry.
In March 2025, police arrested five suspects, four men and one woman at addresses in King’s Lynn, Norwich, and Peterborough on suspicion of murder. Forensic teams conducted detailed searches, including at North Lynn allotments, where forensic tents were seen by locals. However, no breakthrough was reported, and all five suspects remain on police bail until September 11, 2025, pending further enquiries.
In May, there was a brief glimmer of hope when partial human remains were discovered in Walton Highway, a small village on the Norfolk-Cambridgeshire border. But that hope was soon dashed when DNA testing confirmed the remains belonged to an unrelated case, a man in his 30s. The confirmation further deepened the anguish of Maris’s family, leaving Galina still searching for answers.
Police have continued their investigation with support from forensics and regional crime units, but the absence of a body has complicated the case. Detectives say that all leads are still being followed, and public assistance is crucial to moving the case forward.
Speaking on behalf of the police, a spokesperson for Norfolk Constabulary said:
“This is a highly complex and emotional case. We are deeply aware of the pain Maris’s family is going through, especially his mother, who simply wants the chance to give her son a proper burial.
We continue to investigate all available leads and urge anyone with information, no matter how minor it may seem to come forward.”
Maris’s disappearance has rattled the King’s Lynn community, where he was known as a quiet, hardworking individual. Friends and neighbours have also called for justice and urged members of the public to assist law enforcement.
Anyone who may have seen Maris, spoken with him around the time of his disappearance, or has any knowledge of suspicious activity in King’s Lynn or nearby areas around November 2024, is strongly encouraged to speak with police.
- Call Norfolk Police on the non-emergency number 101, quoting crime reference 36/11508/25
- Alternatively, information can be submitted online via Norfolk Constabulary’s public portal or anonymously through Crimestoppers
As the investigation continues, Galina and her family in Latvia are holding on to hope that someone, somewhere, knows the truth, and will find the courage to speak out.
“Please help me bring my son home,” she said. “Even if it’s just to say goodbye.”
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