Missing dad whose body was found in woodland is likely to have lain undiscovered for years
The 35-year-old father had been missing since Valentine's Day in February 2015. An inquest at Cardiff Coroner’s Court on Tuesday heard that he is likely to have taken his own life. He was found with identification, two photographs of his son and a wad of paper with illegible writing in his pocket. Pathologist Dr Richard Jones, who performed a post-mortem examination of Mr Nayler, said that cause of death was unascertainable.
He said: “I can’t give a cause of death from looking at the remains.
“The bones had been exposed to the elements for a long period of time. By that I mean in years.
“He had been missing for two years and nine months. It is entirely possible that he died around that time.”
During his last few days, Glenn had been staying with a childhood friend.
The night before he had gone missing, the pair had gone to an event at The Vaults on Bute Street in Cardiff.
Glenn was said to have "seemed fine" and been happy and smiling they day he went missing.
The hearing was told that the next morning Glenn had "arrived home at around 5.30am alone. He seemed fine – happy and smiling".
Glenn had found out that his ex-partner, whom he had a son with, was engaged to another man.
In a statement, a friend said: “She got engaged to someone else. I know he was gutted they weren’t together.
“I just don’t think he would do that. He was a good dad and loved his son to bits.”
Leanne Knapton said: “He was a proud dad. He really sorted his life out when his son was born.
"It makes no sense that he had no contact with anyone, especially his son.
“He gave back all his son’s toys before he went missing."
Glenn’s body was found in deep woodland with a burnt tent, empty bottles of alcohol, a camping stove and a burnt mobile phone.
Detective Sargeant Kath Barry said: “It points towards no foul play. Glenn reacted to something and has taken himself off to a secluded spot where he didn’t expect to be found. I suspect he took his own life.”
Coroner Philip Spinney recorded an open conclusion.
He said: “Whilst the evidence points to that he died from the effects of having a ligature around his neck, that’s not been concluded by the pathologist and other possibilities cannot be ruled out.”
