The disappearance of a father and son in the Costa del Sol is being treated as a murder investigation, police have confirmed.
Daniel Poole, 46, and Liam Poole, 22, went missing after travelling to Malaga in March 2019 to play golf and look at holiday homes.
The pair from Burgess Hill checked into a hotel but had not been heard from since.
More than three years on from their disappearance, police have told the families of both that they are now treating the case as a homicide investigation.
Sussex Police claim that Spanish authorities are no longer investigating the disappearance of the pair.
A police spokesman said: “We are taking legal steps to take the primacy of the investigation as the Spanish are no longer investigating the disappearance of Danny and Liam Poole.
“This includes obtaining material from the Spanish investigation.
“Both Danny and Liam’s disappearance are now recorded as unsubstantiated deaths in accordance with our responsibilities under the National Crime Recording Standards.”
Lauryn Poole, Liam’s sister, told The Mirror she had been holding out hope that the pair would be found alive.
She said: “I’d been holding on to the idea that maybe everyone had got it wrong.
“There was hope there but now it’s gone. It’s brought on a whole new level of grief, and I’ve really struggled to accept it.”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here