Bobby Carmichael, 79, and a female friend were arrested on suspicion of murder after she discovered a man’s bodyKirstie McCrum Deputy Head of News, Live News Network and Jasmine Siddon17:19, 11 May 2026Bobby Carmichael spent 15 hours in a prison cell after his friend discovered a body in a Leicester park.(Image: Leicester Mercury)A Leicester pensioner’s life was plunged into a “nightmare” after police sealed off his home and detained him on suspicion of murder.Bobby Carmichael, 79, spent 15 hours in police custody before being informed that the so-called “victim”, discovered in a city park, had in fact died of natural causes.Mr Carmichael, from Beaumont Leys, revealed that both he and a female companion were taken into custody after she stumbled upon a body at Castle Gardens, Leicester, on the evening of Thursday, 7 May.He has expressed his fury following a police apology and his unconditional release without charge.Leicestershire Police launched a murder inquiry and placed the entire park under a cordon after the man’s body was found in a bush at just before 8pm, reports Leicestershire Live.Two individuals were arrested on suspicion of murder — a 46-year-old woman and Bobby, both from Leicester.A post-mortem examination subsequently concluded that the man, who was in his 40s, had died as a result of a suspected medical episode.The park entrance was closed(Image: Leicester Mercury)In light of this, police confirmed that the investigation had been stood down on Friday, 8 May, with both individuals released without further action.Mr Carmichael revealed that his companion had ventured into the park to search for a doll she believed she had misplaced the previous evening, when she made the grim discovery.He told LeicestershireLive: “My friend who I was with said she lost something of hers – a doll – the night before.”I waited in the car, and as she was coming back, she saw the body. I don’t know what happened with my friend, but she found what she was looking for, and while she was looking, she saw this body. I told her to phone the police.”Mr Carmichael and his companion returned to his Beaumont Leys residence and were settled in front of the television when there was a knock at the door.”After about 9pm, the police came round. They took my friend away, and she never came back. I had a policeman here watching me, and then one of them came in and just said, ‘Alright, let’s go’.”He explained that he initially had no clue about the identity of the deceased man, only later learning it was someone he had been acquainted with for years through his work as a taxi driver in Leicester.Mr Carmichael said: “I’d known him for a long time, but I didn’t know it was him. He was a good friend, but we fell out. I was gutted when I found out who it was.”He characterised his period in detention as “a nightmare” and labelled the police response as “over the top”, expressing concern about the police cordon established at his property.Mr Carmichael said: “The police apologised to me as I was picked up for nothing and locked up for the night. Fifteen hours.”I just can’t believe it. It’s a disgrace. Fifteen hours, and they came in and just said they were sorry. You phone the police to tell them there’s a body there, and you end up getting banged up.”You never know who’s going to see it and turn up outside. That’s the lowest of the low, really, when you’re innocent and don’t know what they’re doing. It was vile and just horrible. The police apologised to me, but it’s too late for that.”Leicestershire Police confirmed an investigation will be carried out on behalf of HM Coroner to establish the circumstances surrounding the man’s death.Detective Inspector Lorna Granville, the senior investigating officer, explained that officers were duty-bound to make the arrests based on the information they had at that time.She stated the cordoning off of the scene and the arrests were lawful and conducted in line with the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984.DI Granville said that after Friday’s post-mortem examination, which determined the man had died from a suspected medical episode, both people were released without further action.She added that officers had met with those arrested to clarify why the measures were required and “acknowledged the distress the situation may have caused them”.Ensure our latest news and sport headlines always appear at the top of your Google Search by making us a Preferred Source. Click here to activate or add us as Preferred Source.
‘I was locked up for 15 hours after my friend found body in park’
