Arrest after remains found on industrial estate identified

A man has been arrested after remains found on an industrial estate more than three months ago were identified.

The remains were found inside a unit on the estate in Whitehill Road, Glenrothes, on Sunday September 27 last year.

Police released a facial reconstruction created by experts at Liverpool John Moores University as part of their efforts to identify them.

They have now been identified as those of Ean Coutts, 61, who lived in the village of Kinglassie in Fife.

Police said his death is being treated as suspicious and appealed for information.

A 30-year-old man was arrested in connection with the death on Tuesday and released pending further inquiries.

Detective Chief Inspector Kevin Houliston, from Police Scotland’s Major Investigation Team, said: “We received a significant number of responses following release of the facial reconstruction and I would like to thank all those who contacted us.

Ean Coutts
The remains have been identified as those of Ean Coutts, 61 (Police Scotland/PA)

“We are treating his death as suspicious and officers will be carrying out inquiries in and around the Kinglassie and Glenrothes areas as part of our ongoing investigation.

“It Is vital that we establish the events leading up to his death to provide answers to his family.

“I am appealing to anyone who knew Ean, who may have had any contact with him from around August 2019, and anyone who has information that could assist with our investigation to contact us as a matter of urgency.”

Investigations into what happened to Mr Coutts are continuing, including searches of a number of addresses in the Glenrothes and Kinglassie areas.

Police said his family have been informed and are being supported by specialist officers.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 101, quoting incident number 2692 of Sunday September 27 2020, email operationrimau@scotland.pnn.police.uk, or make contact through the Major Incident Public Portal (MIPP) website via https://mipp.police.uk/operation/SCOT20S26-PO1.

If someone wants to pass on information anonymously they can contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

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