Police probing missing Brit hiker refuse to rule out foul play after skull piece found

Investigators probing the death of Brit hiker Esther Dingley have said they are not ruling out any possibility, including foul play.

Human remains including parts of a skull were confirmed as belonging to the tragic 37-year-old in July.

The Oxford graduate had disappeared last November while out on a solo trek through the Pyrenees mountains before her bones were found.

Drones and foot patrols were scouring the area close to Port de la Glere and a police source said at the time they were still working on the theory that Esther died by accident.

But they stressed foul play has not been dismissed.

Police investigations are ongoing ( PA)

Now, The Sun reports that police probing the death have admitted for the first time it could have been a murder.

The French prosecutor leading the investigation spoke of his concerns about the case, and refused to rule out foul play.

Christophe Amunzateguy said: "The aim is to put forward a scenario to explain the disappearance of Esther Dingley.

“To find out what may have happened â€" whether it was an accidental thesis, or a criminal thesis, because we are not closing the door to any hypothesis.”

The hiker's personal equipment, including her yellow tent and red-and-grey rucksack, are yet to be found.

A spokesman for her family said: “When this clothing and kit does turn up, it is likely to answer a lot of questions â€" or pose some more. Finding out what happened remains a priority.”

Esther Dingley and Dan Colegate ( Facebook)

Ms Dingley was last seen on November 22 and her partner Dan reported her missing on November 25.

He had not heard from her since she sent a message three days earlier from the top of the Pic de Sauvegarde mountain.

Forensics officers at the Scientific Police Laboratory in Toulouse matched the skull found with Ms Dingley after her mother, Ria Byrant, provided DNA, along with dental records.

The enquiry in France is now being led by Christophe Amunzateguy, the Prosecutor of Saint-Gaudens.

He has been told by police colleagues that wild animals may have picked up the skull in a hidden gulley and transported it to the spot where it was found by Spanish hikers.

Missing hiker Esther Dingley with boyfriend Dan Colegate ( Internet Unknown)

Brown bears and wolves are among the animals roaming freely in the Pyrenees, and birds of prey such as vultures are also a common sight.

"This is the most plausible hypothesis," said Colonel Xavier Wargnier, one of the senior French officers involved in the search.

He confirmed that the skull was found at an altitude of 2,200 meters (7218ft) but that it could also have been dislodged by melting snow.

He said: "It could have hurtled down the mountain during the spring thaw."

Esther Dingley's skull may have been moved by animals as family has 'many questions' Esther Dingley detectives ‘not ruling out foul play’ in Brit hiker’s death

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