DETECTIVES are investigating whether a man found dead and mutilated in his Chester home could have had parts of his body fed to his pet dog by his killer.
Police carrying out a murder investigation into the death of Stephen Charles Prudhoe, 49, have revealed body parts have still not been found.
They also said a weapon, believed to be a sharp knife, which they think was used to mutilate his body, had also not been discovered.
Officers said Mr Prudhoe's dog, Milo, had been found loose in the house in Blacon Point Road, Chester, after the victim was discovered by a neighbour concerned he had not been seen for a while.
Mr Prudhoe was found at 5.10pm on Wednesday, March 10. He was known for walking his dog up to five times a day around the local area, including the Spar shop where he bought alcohol each day. Officers say he was a heavy drinker, and had recently been known to smoke small amounts of cannabis.
Stephen Prudhoe was found on the upstairs landing of his home. He was fully clothed, wearing a T-shirt, shirt, trousers and socks. Officers say they have no evidence of him having a sexual relationship with anyone, and he was estranged from his wife and daughter.
DCI Andy Marsden of Cheshire Police said a post mortem had revealed the mutilation took place after Mr Prudhoe died, and that pneumonia and a heart attack had contributed to his death.
He said discussions were under way with Cheshire's coroner Nicholas Rheinberg over the possibility of a second post mortem to try to find out more about the circumstances of how Stephen Prudhoe died.
The house continues to be treated as a murder scene and forensic examinations are continuing, including trying to find out what happened to his genitals.
DCI Marsden said they were carrying out tests on the dog, a small cross breed, to see if he had eaten them.
Speaking at a press conference last night, held a week after Mr Prudhoe was last seen alive, police said they had no idea what the motive could be for killing and mutilating him.
Detectives have not discovered any signs of a struggle at Mr Prudhoe's home, and said the victim did not have any criminal convictions which might have provided a motive. He was last seen alive by a friend at his home on Tuesday, March 9 around
At the press conference, one of three people identified as a close friend of Mr Prudhoe, Michael Clough, 42, appealed for local people to help the police build up a 11.30am. picture of the last movements of his friend of 27 years.
He said: "It is not true he was a loner. Stephen was very articulate and intelligent, and his manners were impeccable. He had no enemies in the world and his death is a mystery."
Anyone with information is asked to contact the detectives on 01244 613087, or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.
