A father who has spent 24 years seeking justice for his son’s brutal murder has released shocking emails he received about his son’s killer.
Mark Corey, 23, was “brutally shot to death” and his body was discovered in farmland on December 13, 2000, five months after he went missing.
Although five suspects have been charged, none have been convicted following police involvement in the “wiretapping” operation.
Her father, Tony Corley, 70, has campaigned for justice for nearly 25 years and is offering a reward of $26,064.30 to anyone who provides evidence leading to a conviction.
And now, 24 years after his son disappeared, he revealed the last of the newly emerged evidence for the first time this month.
Tony, a divorced former building contractor, said he received a mysterious email from someone who claimed to know the killer.
But he says he needs time to decide whether to tell everyone.
Heartbroken, Tony holds out hope that one day they’ll change their minds.
Tony, from Nottingham, speaking about the case for the first time, said: “Long after the reward was offered I received an email saying they used to know the culprit but now they have changed their ways.”
“They said they needed time to decide whether to say anything to me.
“I contacted police about that potential tip and they collected email addresses and phone numbers and traced the person who provided the information.
“The authorities investigated and said it was true, but the informant was afraid of the perpetrator and they could not force him to provide information.”
He added: “Twenty-five years have passed. Twenty-five years of my life wasted, but at least I can say I want justice for Mark.”
“I’ve not been the same person since then, but I have to learn to deal with it day by day, and that’s all I can do.”
“I was very bitter. It was traumatic. I have a short temper, it separated me from my friends and it changed my life completely.”
“I have no real friends. My partner dumped me at the time and that set off a chain reaction that people don’t understand. It’s like I’m serving my own life sentence.”
“I have completely lost faith in the police. Why can’t they be punished for murder?”
“This has destroyed my life. I am just existing. I want the police to understand and feel what I have done.”
“[When they were charged] I thought that justice would be served and we would see them executed, but that never happened and it’s a horrible feeling.”
Father-of-one Mark disappeared without a trace from his home in Grantham in July 2002 after the alarm was raised.
Tony believes Mark fell into the wrong company and says there was a falling out between them even before he went missing over decisions Mark had made.
Tony had last been seen by his mother in late June after being away from home for a few days, but when he didn’t return his daughter called to break the news.
Police searched for him for six months and “missing person” posters were put up before his body was discovered by drainage workers in a field near Darlington in December 2000.
One denies murder and the other four deny conspiracy to murder.
However, the case was dismissed after it emerged that the police had engaged in illegal wiretapping.
The court heard hidden microphones were installed in a playground outside the police station to record secret conversations between detained men and their lawyers.
Tony, who wrote a book about the murder called “More Questions Than Answers,” said he was shocked to learn the case had been dismissed.
He still has a £20,000 reward on his head and Lincolnshire Police are treating the case as open.
“The trial started. Sadly, the judge said there would be no trial. The judge said the police would be charged with breaking the law,” Tony said.
“The police never came and apologised. It was a horrible situation.”
“It’s very depressing and difficult. There are so many anniversaries – Mark’s birthday, around May or June when he went missing, the day they found him and the trial.”
“I’ve always been hopeful and I truly believe that no one knows what’s going to happen next.
“I never give up. It’s just a matter of how hard I’m willing to work to get my story out there. There are rewards. I’ve written a book and I’m really trying my best.”
“Police have said to wait and see and if there is any new evidence they will take action.”
A Lincolnshire Police spokesman said: “No one has been brought to justice for the murder of Mark Corey.”
“Lincolnshire Police are not actively investigating this incident but if any further evidence or information emerges consultation will take place with the Crown Prosecution Service.”
In 2019, Lincolnshire Police Deputy Commissioner Craig Naylor said: “While no one has been brought to justice for the murder of Mark Corey, we regularly review cases in line with police policy.”
“If any further evidence or information comes to light, we will consult with the family and the prosecutor’s office and make every effort to move the case forward.”
