Detectives have renewed an appeal for information into the murder of David ‘Les’ Ross, two days before what would have been his 40th birthday.
Police insist the investigation into the death of Mr Ross, who was found at the Village Inn Express hotel, in The Jamb, Corby, is making “good progress”, despite the probe now lasting for five months.
Northamptonshire Police today revealed 47 police officers and staff have been working on the investigation, taking 221 statements, generating 483 investigative reports and taking 886 exhibits.
Officers have spoken to 1,045 people in the course of the probe.
Detective Chief Inspector Martin Kinchin, of the East Midlands regional major crime team, said: “While this is a challenging investigation, significant progress has been made since December 17.
“It has become apparent that a number of people with information were initially reluctant to come forward through fear of repercussions, but this is changing and more people are now providing useful information.”
A £10,000 reward remains on offer for information leading to the conviction of a killer. Crimestoppers callers are provided with a PIN number to allow them to anonymously claim the reward.
DCI Kinchin said there are still a number of potential witnesses who have not been traced.
He added: “We know that there were a number of people waiting for a bus opposite the Village Inn Express that morning who have not been traced and we would ask these people to come forward.”
Police say Mr Ross was a private person, who only shared limited details of his life with different people, and officers have spent considerable time piecing together information.
Officers have previously appealed for a person captured on CCTV walking along the Jamb at 7.26am to come forward.
The person is shown on CCTV to start to cross the road before changing their mind. The person was wearing a hooded top with a motif on the front to one side.
Police have now released details of another person they are keen to identify.
The man parks a silver or grey Vauxhall Insignia or Vectra car in The Chapel Lane car park and at 7.39am walked back from The Jamb to the car park and drives away.
The man appears to be wearing a suit or jacket, which he removes before driving away.
Police believe he may have visited one of the local shops.
A 40-year-old Corby man remains on police bail while investigations continue.