Human remains found next to Greater Manchester motorway identified as man who vanished in January

Human remains discovered close to a busy motorway in Greater Manchester have been identified as a missing Lancashire man last seen in January.

The family of Ajani Campbell, 41, described him as a "force of nature" who had a "deeply spiritual soul that connected him to the world".

Greater Manchester Police said "at this stage we are not ruling out any lines of enquiry" regarding the circumstances surrounding the death.

Bridge inspectors found Mr Campbell's skeletal remains at the bottom of a concrete embankment of a railway bridge over the M67 in Hyde, Tameside, on 3 August.

The force said there were no personal belongings or other items that could assist officers in establishing the man's identity at the time.

A forensic post-mortem was carried out and DNA extracted from a bone led to Mr Campbell's identification.

In a statement released through Greater Manchester Police, his family said: "It is with shattered hearts that we honour the memory of our beloved Ajani, who went missing on 24 January 2026.

"While the agonising search to find Ajani has come to an end, the reality of losing him has left us in a grief too deep for words.

"Ajani was a force of nature - funny, caring, and incredibly loving. He was a loving son, brother, uncle, cousin and friend.

"He had a passion for life that showed in everything he did, whether he was working out, exploring the great outdoors, or dropping bars and sharing his gift for rapping."

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The statement continued: "He possessed a deeply spiritual soul that connected him to the world and the people around him in a profound way.

"To know Ajani was to love him, and he left an unforgettable mark on every single person he met.

"We want to express our deepest gratitude to everyone who helped search, prayed, and stood by us during this darkest chapter.

"Though his journey on this earth was cut devastatingly short, his light will live on forever in our hearts. Rest easy, our beautiful boy. You are loved beyond measure."

Mr Campbell, from Preston in Lancashire, disappeared and was classed as a high-risk missing person after leaving his home on 24 January.

He boarded a train in the city and was captured on CCTV at Manchester Piccadilly Station at about 12.30am on 25 January.

Mr Campbell was then tracked into the city centre and last seen on CCTV footage at 1.48am on Deansgate at the junction with Quay Street.

The investigation continues, with police keen to piece together a timeline of Mr Campbell's movements and how he came to be under the bridge.

An online portal has been set up for anyone with information to submit details directly to the inquiry team.

Detective Sergeant Ian Parker said: "Our thoughts remain with Ajani's family and loved ones as they continue to come to terms with this tragic news.

"Thanks to extensive enquiries, specialist forensic work and DNA analysis, we have now been able to formally identify the remains as Ajani Campbell, who was reported missing from Preston back in January.

"We have been working closely with Lancashire Constabulary since we picked up this investigation, sharing information and assisting each other with establishing facts.

"While this provides some answers for his family, our investigation remains ongoing and we are continuing to piece together Ajani's movements in the hours before he was last seen in Manchester city centre."

(c) Sky News 2026: Human remains found next to Greater Manchester motorway identified as man who vanished in Ja