Parents heartbroken as teenage son stabbed to death - and killer still on the run

Matthew Daulby was stabbed to death when a mass brawl broke out between two groups of men shortly after midnight on July 29, 2023 - and his parents have been left heartbroken

The heartbroken parents of a teenager who was tragically stabbed to death last year have spoken of their anguish as their son's killer is still on the run.

Gary and Angela Daulby are pleading for the public's help to find a man wanted in connection with the killing of their 19-year-old son Matthew. The teen, from Lydiate, Merseyside, was hit over the head and stabbed to death in Ormskirk, Lancashire, when a mass brawl broke out between two groups of men shortly after midnight on July 29, 2023.

Matthew had visited the town with nine others after receiving a message to a group chat from a friend who had been assaulted on a night out. After the two groups met on Railway Road in Ormskirk, a fight broke out.

The teen received a blow to the head with a rock before being stabbed in the chest by another man. He then made his way to Moorgate where he collapsed, bleeding heavily. He was taken to Aintree University Hospital but was pronounced dead at 1.25am.

Earlier this year, 19-year-old Harry Houghton of Barrison Green, Scarisbrick, claimed he was not part of a planned attack. However, a jury rejected his account and he was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum of 20 years at Preston Crown Court in May.

But during the trial it emerged that Thomas Dures, who is wanted in connection with the murder, is still on the run. Lancashire Police confirmed earlier this month that the wanted man is believed to have fled to Spain.

Speaking to the Liverpool Echo, Matthew's parents made an emotional appeal for anyone who aided his escape from the country to provide information that would lead to his arrest. Gary and Angela said they are unable to grieve with the search for Dures, who recently turned 21, hanging over them.

Dad Gary said: "We're stuck in this process and we can't really get to the point where we're grieving. We speak to the police, as wonderful as the police have been over the last 15 months, we have conversations every week with them and it's constantly on one main focus - can we locate Thomas Dures in connection with this investigation?

"We're trying our best to cope with this awful situation and the tragedy of losing our youngest son and dealing with all aspects of what's going on around it. We're very private people but we've put ourselves out there to try and get some help from a member of the public who can give us the information that leads us to the next stage of this process we're in."

Matthew's mum Angela added: "We still don't know why this happened. On a normal Friday evening, after having a family meal. He was only 19. He left to go to the pub with his girlfriend, in the best mood ever, he was going on holiday the following week. He didn't come home and we don't know why this happened. Matthew was killed in something like one minute 42 seconds.

"In one minute and 42 seconds he was killed and we don't know why. Henry Houghton said in the witness box that he didn't even know Matthew." Four other men appeared at Preston Crown Court accused of conspiracy to commit violent disorder this year. Two men were found not guilty, but a jury was unable to reach a verdict with regards to the other two, and another trial date has been set.

Police confirmed during their latest appeal for information they are aware that people helped him leave the country, with a £20,000 reward available for any information that will lead to his arrest. In a message to those who may know his whereabouts, a tearful Angela said: "As a mum, I'd say please, please, nobody should lose their child and if they put themselves in my position, how do they think they'd feel and I ask them to please help. Please do the right thing."

Gary, who worked with Matthew, would travel to and from work with his son and spent their lunch breaks together, said: "We know there are people who are helping him and there are people out there who can give us that vital piece of information. I know Crimestoppers have kindly put up the £20,000 reward just for information that leads to his arrest.

"It's in the public domain now that they think he's in Spain. That's €24,000 and that's just for one piece of information. The message I would give to the people who have helped him and continue to help him is to just do the right thing. Do the right thing and don’t continue to shield this individual."

At the time of Matthew's death, he was learning to drive and was preparing to start a college course in business management in the September. He was also due to fly to Ibiza just days after he was stabbed, having booked the events for his trip hours before his murder.

DCI Andy Fallows, of Lancashire Police's Force Major Investigation Team, said at the beginning of the month: "It has now been over 12 months since Matthew's murder and although one man has been found guilty, his family's wait for justice goes on. Thomas Dures has known that my officers have wanted to speak to him for some time and while Matthew's family continue to search for answers about what happened that night, Dures is out there and knows we want to speak to him.

"While I believe it is high time Dures does the right thing and hands himself in, I still have officers in the UK and our National Crime Agency/Interpol colleagues searching for him. As part of those searches, I am asking for the public in Spain to get in contact with Crimestoppers if they see Dures or have information on his whereabouts. I want to make it clear, that unusually the public only need to provide information that leads to Dures' arrest."

Neil Keeping, NCA Regional Manager in Spain, said: "Dures has known links to Spain and could be living anywhere in the country. We are therefore appealing to people who reside in Spain and visiting holidaymakers to come forward with any information relating to his whereabouts. It has been over a year since Matthew Daulby's life was taken in tragic circumstances, and we are actively working with our partners here in Spain to locate Dures, who may be able to assist Lancashire Police detectives with their ongoing investigation."

Gary Murray, North West Regional Manager at the charity Crimestoppers, said: "We know it can be difficult to give information directly to the police, especially when it involves dangerous criminals. This is why Crimestoppers exists as we guarantee you stay 100% anonymous when you pass on what you know.

"We are here 24/7 via our website or by calling our UK Contact Centre on 0800 555 111. For anyone in Spain who knows of Thomas Dures whereabouts, please contact Crimestoppers via our website Crimestoppers-uk.org."