Janice R. Andrews
Police investigators searched 12 tonnes of soil beneath a parking lot in Gibraltar for a week in an attempt to find information leading to the disappearance of Simon, an 18-year-old radio operator who vanished more than 37 years ago. It’s thought that Simon was killed by a serial murderer known as “The Navy’s Dennis Nilsen.”
One of the most deadly killers ever seen is the leading suspect, Allan Grimson, who is presently serving a life term at the high-security Frankland jail for the murders of two young men. A psychologist has described Grimson. Grimson’s parole hearing is scheduled for next month, and his 22-year minimum tariff expired more than a year ago.
Eight Hampshire police officers and their MoD-affiliated Defence Security Crime Team colleagues carried out a thorough search that required sorting through 12 tonnes of debris in a sealed water tank beneath the Town Range parking lot. Herculean attempts later, there were no noteworthy discoveries from the hunt.
Leading the Operation Thornhill re-investigation into Simon’s disappearance, Detective Chief Inspector Adam Edwards stressed that the probe is still ongoing. Due to his history of killing people on the same day in the following years, Grimson, the former petty officer, was a top suspect in the disappearance of Simon on December 12, 1986.
After spending the night on land in Gibraltar, Simon, a crew member aboard the aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious, vanished. Around 10:30 p.m., the final known sighting occurred when he discussed grabbing some “big eats” before heading back to the ship. Grimson was seen by witnesses at the pub, and authorities surmise that Grimson may have killed Simon after luring him away from the main path.
Grimson denies any participation in Simon’s disappearance, despite being found guilty of other killings and facing strong circumstantial evidence. No results have been found from earlier searches in Gibraltar, including the most recent excavation of a parking lot.
Margaret, Simon’s mother, is still adamant about Grimson’s accountability and is against his release because she worries about her son’s safety. New information is coming to light, and the parole board will make a decision regarding Grimson’s future next month. The investigation is at a critical point.
On this day, January 27, Simon’s family remembers him and continues to hope that they will recover his remains and return him home. As the parole hearing draws near, the case keeps people’s interest, and detectives’ top objective is still finding answers.
