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- Timeline Brett Dryden’s feared murder
- 10am: Morning of July 21, 2024
- Before 1pm: At his workplace
- Shortly before 1.35pm: Leaves The Dawg House
- 1:59pm: First suspect arrives at his home
- 2.00pm: Car seen, messages sent
- 2:15pm: Lookout moves toward house
- 2:16pm: Suspects flee
- 10pm: Body discovered
- Late evening: Contradictory police findings
- 11:31pm: Mysterious phone call
- Days after the death
- Five days later
- Possible suspect phone identified but not pursued
The family of a British father found ‘murdered’ in his Spanish home have been forced to hire private investigators after Spanish police shelved the case despite overwhelming evidence of foul play.
Brett Dryden, 35, was found dead and covered in blood at his home in Mojacar, Almeria, on July 21, 2024.
There were clear signs of a struggle and his phone and wallet were missing, alongside up to €8,000 in cash
Initially, local police declared no signs of criminality, claiming nothing had been stolen and that Brett had died of a pulmonary embolism.
They later admitted a robbery had taken place when a post-mortem revealed a catalogue of injuries, including to his neck, face, arms and leg, and a large wound to his head.
Pathologists also found there was internal bleeding in his brain.
Incredibly, despite two suspects seen on CCTV fleeing his home moments after the estimated time of death, Spanish authorities closed the case in September, with the family only being informed of their decision last week.
His mother Sandra Dryden told the Spanish Eye today: ‘It’s been terrible the way they have handled Brett’s murder.’
Revealing she has hired private investigators she added: ‘I’m hoping for justice to catch the people who took Brett’s life.
‘Then I want the Guardia Civil and the courts in Vera to be held accountable.’
Sandra continued: ‘I’m heartbroken, he was my best friend, he was kind and caring and his little girl Charley misses him so much.
‘His sister is devastated and all his nephews miss him terribly, I cry every day, his stepdad and niece miss him dreadfully.’
Sandra says she ‘never stops’ working on Brett’s case, and says she will ‘absolutely’ take legal action against Spanish police once the truth is revealed.
Timeline Brett Dryden’s feared murder
10am: Morning of July 21, 2024
Brett Dryden speaks to his mother, Sandra Adams, and his young daughter via FaceTime.
It is the last time his family sees or hears from him.
Before 1pm: At his workplace
Brett is working at The Dawg House, the legal marijuana club he owns in Mojácar.
He exchanges messages with his friend Ashley Povey, who would later discover his body.
Shortly before 1.35pm: Leaves The Dawg House
Brett tells employee Yashar Goodarz he is stepping out briefly: ‘I’ll be right back.’
CCTV shows him placing money into his wallet and leaving at 1:35pm.
1:59pm: First suspect arrives at his home
CCTV outside Brett’s home captures a person wearing a cap and face mask pacing up and down.
Police later describe this individual as a lookout.
He remains outside for 16 minutes.
2.00pm: Car seen, messages sent
A neighbour notices Brett’s car parked outside his house.
Employee Goodarz messages Brett asking where he is.
Brett is on the phone with Povey but suddenly hangs up, saying the people he was waiting for had arrived.
2:15pm: Lookout moves toward house
CCTV shows the lookout turning into the alleyway leading directly to Brett’s home.
This is the last moment before the fatal incident takes place.
2:16pm: Suspects flee
One minute later, CCTV captures two masked individuals running away:
One carries a large bag
The other carries a small bag similar to Brett’s, which he had when arriving home.
Both disappear from the scene.
10pm: Body discovered
After being contacted by Goodarz, friend Ashley Povey goes to Brett’s house.
Receiving no response to knocks or messages, Povey enters.
Brett’s dog is on the sofa; Brett is found dead on the floor, covered in blood.
Povey alerts local police.
Late evening: Contradictory police findings
Police initially state ‘No signs of a struggle’ (despite chairs overturned and bloody footprints).
Brett’s wallet and phone were present (this is later proven wrong).
Friends are allowed to walk through the scene twice without protective gear.
The body is removed within 2.5 hours of judicial police being notified.
11:31pm: Mysterious phone call
A one-second call is made from Brett’s missing phone to his mother.
This occurs 1.5 hours after the body is discovered. The phone is never recovered.
Days after the death
Planned meeting is revealed as it emerges Brett had arranged to meet an Albanian man named Irdi at his home on the day he died, for a business deal.
Another Albanian man, Hakim/Hakir, usually seen with Irdi, is also mentioned.
No police record indicates either man was located or interviewed.
Five days later
Brett’s missing phone is tracked to an address on Loma del Soler, Vera (Almería).
A second mobile number appears at the crime scene area between 1.19pm and 2.19pm and at the same Loma del Soler address.
At 2.09pm, this second number receives a 21-second call from another phone in the Loma del Soler area.
Possible suspect phone identified but not pursued
Police identify the owner of the second phone – a woman living at the Loma del Soler address – who had no criminal record and was not the registered user of the phone.
At least four adults lived at the property; one had nine police arrests, and others may have been staying due to it being a campsite.
The police file shows no evidence that the actual phone user was ever identified or interviewed.
Police later state that mobile repeater coverage made accurate location impossible, citing overlap between various areas around Vera.
