A Leominster family is grieving after a so-called “mystery man”, whose body was discovered in woodland earlier this month, has been identified as a much-loved father and son.
Father of four, Darren Lee Smith’s death has come as a “complete shock” for his relatives and this week his parents, Graham and Mary Smith, have paid tribute to a man with a “wonderful sense of humour”.
A keen musician, Darren Lee, aged 33, worked on construction sites and was well-known in Leominster where he grew up. In a tribute, his parents stated: “He leaves behind two devastated parents, a sister Kirsty, a brother Jan and four wonderful children.”
Darren Lee’s funeral will be at Hereford Crematorium on Tuesday, July 28, at 12.45pm.
Police launched an appeal after an unidentified body was found in undergrowth at the side of a field between the A49 and the railway line at Leominster on July 10, not far from the spot where two men ended their lives in a suicide pact more than six months ago.
In a strange twist, the two men who were found in the River Lugg on January 3 were also named Smith, though police point out that the men were not related.
‘Bizarre’
Andrew Smith, aged 40, and Paul Smith, 43, both experienced depression before taking their own lives, deputy coroner Mark Bricknell concluded at a recent inquest.
Despite the fact that Darren Lee Smith’s body was found not far from the spot where the other two men died, a police spokesman has confirmed that there was no connection.
He agreed that it was a “bizarre” coincidence, but stated that there was “no suggestion from what we have got at the moment that there is a connection”.
Detectives have ruled out suspicious circumstances in Darren Lee’s death following analysis of evidence gathered at the scene.
A post-mortem examination has been carried out and toxicology tests undertaken to determine the cause of death, which is being treated as unexplained at this stage.
The spokesman said that it was for the coroner to determine how Darren Lee died. However, police have confirmed they are not looking for a third party in connection with his death.
Described by family as “very much his own man”, Mr Smith was well-known in the town he grew up in as an accomplished self-taught musician.
His father, Graham, said his son often worked on construction sites driving dumper trucks and was “never happier than when in his soundproofed cab, listening to music or current affairs programmes.”
He had a number of interests and was an accomplished self-taught musician who could play keyboards, trumpet, mouth-organ and guitar. “He had a wonderful sense of humour,” said his mother, “and was very much his own man, happy to do things at his own pace. We have happy memories of Darren Lee’s music-making.”
Mr and Mrs Smith said their son knew a “great many people” having grown up in Leominster. “He will be greatly missed by all of us,” they said.
by Sally Boyce