**Body of Man Mistakenly Killed Over False Paedophile Claims Remained Unfound for Weeks, Report Discloses**
A harrowing case from Yeovil, Somerset has shocked the community, after a man was brutally murdered based solely on a mistaken identity, according to a newly released report. The victim, Michael Wheeler, was wrongly thought to be a convicted child sex offender due to sharing the same name as an individual jailed in 2003. His killers, Mark Roberts and David Garland, acted on this incorrect assumption, resulting in tragic consequences.
The ordeal began when Roberts and Garland found reports online about a different Michael Wheeler who had been convicted of grooming offences more than two decades ago. Despite the absence of any evidence linking their acquaintance to these crimes, the two decided to exact what they believed was “justice.” Wheeler was attacked at Roberts’ flat on Juniper Close in the early hours of 24 August 2024. The assault, described in Bristol Crown Court as a relentless, vigilante-style beating lasting up to two hours, left Wheeler with fatal injuries, including multiple skull and facial fractures.
A report from the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has now criticised the local police response, revealing that Wheeler’s body went undiscovered for weeks despite several anonymous tip-offs. Initial alerts included claims that someone had been heard shouting for the police at the flat. When officers attended, a man answered outside but refused entry, and no further action was taken at the time. Over three weeks later, another call to the force claimed there was a dead body at the same location, allegedly murdered weeks previously. Despite further enquiries, at that stage no body was found.
The breakthrough came after several arrests were made in connection with the case. Officers later discovered Wheeler’s body in a derelict caravan on farmland in Yarlington on 25 September. By this time, he had been missing for more than a month, a delay which compounded the distress suffered by his loved ones. The IOPC has launched an investigation into the conduct of the sergeant who responded to the initial reports.
Michael Wheeler, aged 37, was described by family as both fragile and loyal, a man who struggled with drug addiction but was keen to rebuild his life for the sake of his young daughter, Sophie. Tragically, his mother, Susan, died from motor neurone disease in the months before the trial began. In a poignant statement read to the court, she said: “Michael and I had a wonderful relationship. He always enjoyed sitting with me and chatting. Last year, I was diagnosed with motor neurone disease… I may not be here when the statement is read out, meaning I am with my son now.”
Alison Wheeler, Michael’s ex-wife, also spoke of the confusion and pain brought on by the senseless act. “Michael was my best friend. He was painfully shy, but somehow the loudest in the room. He struggled, but was desperate to get clean. I will always look at our daughter and think about how I couldn’t save her dad,” she shared.
In June 2025, following a thorough investigation and trial, both Roberts and Garland were sentenced to life imprisonment for murder, with minimum terms of 27 and 32 years respectively. They were additionally found guilty of conspiracy to cause grievous bodily harm. The judge, Mr Justice Linden, condemned their actions in the strongest possible terms, highlighting not only the brutality of the attack but also the subsequent attempts to conceal the crime, including the disposal of Wheeler’s body.
Commenting on the outcome, Detective Superintendent Lorett Spierenburg, who led the inquiry, stated: “Michael Wheeler was brutally murdered by people he had considered as friends. He was killed over a £100 debt and because they wrongly decided he had been jailed for child sex offences in 2003, when he would have been just 16. The defendants gave Michael no opportunity to tell them they were wrong.”
This tragedy has sparked new debates over the dangers of vigilante justice and the way false information spread online can result in catastrophic real-world consequences. Meanwhile, questions remain over the speed and efficiency of the initial police response. As friends and family attempt to come to terms with their loss, many are left hoping that lessons will be learned to prevent such a devastating mistake from happening once more.
The incident stands as a sombre reminder of the need for due process, rather than snap judgements and violence, when dealing with sensitive and potentially life-altering accusations.