A 26-year-old man who died in a suspected murder during a summer solstice event at a Bronze Age stone circle has been named by police as Isaac Clare-Watts, from Nottingham. He was found at the Nine Ladies stone circle in Stanton Lees, Peak District, Derbyshire, at approximately 1:38 PM on Monday.
Arrest Made in Brutal Killing
Police have described the incident as a brutal taking of a young man's life. A 41-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder and remains in custody, according to Derbyshire police. The Derby Mountain Rescue team, which assisted the East Midlands Ambulance Service at the scene, expressed condolences in a Facebook statement: “Our thoughts are with the man’s friends and family at this difficult time.”
Appeal for Witnesses and Footage
Officers have confirmed that a number of people were in the area over the weekend for the summer solstice. They are urging anyone who was present between June 19 and 23, and anyone with video footage from the event during that period, to come forward. Additionally, the force is seeking dashcam footage of vehicles arriving and leaving over the weekend.
Detective Inspector Tony Owen of the East Midlands Special Operations Unit, leading the investigation, said: “I am urgently appealing for anyone who attended the summer solstice event over the weekend to please speak to officers as soon as they can. 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.”
Key Information Sought
Owen emphasized the importance of speaking with all attendees: “You may have only been there briefly and think you can’t help, but you could hold the key piece of information we need to understand what has happened and help us to get justice for this young man’s family. So I would ask, please, that if you attended the event, you contact us urgently so we can build up a picture of the event itself and what has led to this man’s death.” He also urged anyone who captured video footage from the weekend to come forward.
Historical Context
According to English Heritage, Nine Ladies is a small early Bronze Age stone circle, “traditionally believed to depict nine ladies turned to stone as a penalty for dancing on Sunday.” The monument is a popular site for solstice gatherings.
