Credible reports indicate that Dr Adrian Hanciles, a Freetown-based medical doctor who had been missing since Thursday, September 3, 2026, has been found dead.
Sources said police contacted his family after a public appeal seeking information about his whereabouts went viral on Wednesday evening. The family was reportedly informed that an unidentified body was being held at the Police Mortuary in Kingtom.
Police reportedly explained that the body had been recovered earlier and remained unidentified in their custody for some time. It was subsequently identified as that of Dr Adrian Hanciles.
The circumstances surrounding his disappearance and death remain unclear. No detailed official statement had been issued by the relevant authorities at the time of publication, while further information is expected as investigations continue.
Before the tragic discovery, the Sierra Leone Medical and Dental Association had joined his family and members of the public in searching for him.
A missing-person notice bearing the Association’s logo stated that Dr Adrian Hanciles was last seen at about 8:30 a.m. on September 3 near St Mary’s Supermarket at Hillcot Junction in Freetown. He was reportedly wearing a brown shirt and trousers when he disappeared.
The notice included his photograph and appealed to members of the public to provide credible information that could help establish his whereabouts. His disappearance generated widespread concern among relatives, medical practitioners and other members of the public.
The appeal was subsequently circulated widely across social media and other public platforms. According to sources, the increased public attention prompted communication between the police and the family, eventually leading to the identification of the body.
News of his death has brought the search to a tragic end and left his family, colleagues and the wider medical community in mourning.
The authorities are expected to investigate how Dr Adrian Hanciles died and the circumstances under which his body was recovered. Members of the public are encouraged to avoid speculation until the police or his family provides verified details concerning the incident.
