A family has pleaded for help after a 26-year-old man was killed ‘in the most brutal way’ at a Bronze Age stone circle where hundreds had gathered to celebrate the summer solstice.
Isaac Clare-Watts, a qualified joiner from Arnold, Nottingham, was found dead at the Nine Ladies Stone Circle on Stanton Moor in Derbyshire at around 1.30pm on Monday. His mother, Christy Clare, paid tribute on social media, calling him ‘Isaac the Wonder Boy’.
“Isaac Clare-Watts, 26, found dead at Nine Ladies Stone Circle after solstice; 41-year-old arrested.”
‘We don’t have much information currently,’ she wrote. ‘Contact is welcome but please understand we have no words or answers.’
His sister Jonimae appealed directly to those who had attended the solstice event, saying: ‘Please keep giving any information you may have. We will get justice for you, Isaac. You didn’t deserve any of this.’
A 41-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder and remains in custody.
Mr Clare-Watts had recently returned to the UK after travelling the world, having left his job at Nottingham-based building firm Frank Goulding Ltd late last year. The company said in a statement: ‘Isaac was a very popular member of our team and decided last year he wanted to take some time and go and see the world, in particular spending some time in Thailand to develop his Muay Thai skills, which was a passion of his.’ He had been a keen drummer and planned to resume his travels.
Detective Inspector Tony Owen, from the East Midlands special operations unit, is leading the investigation. He said: ‘A young man’s life has been taken in the most brutal way, so it is vital that myself and the team build up a clear picture of the exact circumstances surrounding his death. This is why we urgently need to speak to everyone who was at the scene over the weekend.’
Police are particularly keen to speak to anyone who was at the Nine Ladies Stone Circle between June 19 and 23, and anyone with video footage from the event. The site is considered sacred by Pagans, and hundreds had descended to listen to loud music and dance into the early hours.
‘You may have only been there briefly and think you can’t help but you could hold the key piece of information we need,’ Owen added. ‘So I would ask, please, that if you attended the event, you contact us urgently.’