Mystery surrounds "brutal" summer solstice death at Peak District beauty spot - police in "urgent" appeal
“A young man’s life has been taken in the most brutal way,” police have said as they launched an urgent appeal for anyone at the summer solstice event to come forward
Murder detectives have launched an “urgent appeal” for anyone at a Peak District summer solstice event to come forward, as they revealed a man’s life was taken in “the most brutal way.”
The body of the man, a 26-year-old whose identity is not yet known, was found at the Nine Ladies Stone Circle in Stanton Lees, Derbyshire on Monday afternoon (June 22, 2026).
A murder investigation was subsequently launched, and police believe the man may have lost his life during a summer solstice event at the site.
Speaking this morning (Wednesday, June 24, 2026), Detective Inspector Tony Owen from the East Midlands Special Operations Unit (EMSOU), who is leading the investigation, said: “I am urgently appealing for anyone who attended the summer solstice event over the weekend to please speak to officers as soon as they can.
“A young man’s life has been taken in the most brutal way so it is vital that myself and the team build up a clear picture of the exact circumstances surrounding his death.
“This is why we urgently need to speak to everyone who was at the scene over the weekend.
“You may have only been there briefly and think you can’t help but you could hold the key piece of information we need to understand what has happened and help us to get justice for this young man’s family.
“So I would ask, please, that if you attended the event, you contact us urgently so we can build up a picture of the event itself and what has led to this man’s death. I also really urge anyone who captured video footage from the event over the weekend to please come forward.
“You could play a key role in helping us with this murder investigation.”
Detectives are urging anyone who has been present at the Nine Ladies Stone Circle between Friday, June 19, 2026, through to yesterday (Tuesday, June 23, 2026) to come forward.
They are also asking anyone with any footage from the event from the same time period to please contact them.
A Major Incident Public Portal (MIPP) has been set up where members of the public can send them information directly via this link – https://orlo.uk/crGcI
Information can also be passed to us via the below methods, quoting the reference 26*364216:
• Website – They have crime reporting tools on their website: https://orlo.uk/a1AJz
• Facebook – Send them a private message to the Derbyshire Constabulary Facebook page
• Phone – Call them on 101
You can also anonymously contact the independent charity CrimeStoppers, on 0800 555 111, or by visiting the CrimeStoppers website: https://orlo.uk/5Uepm