‘Caring’ man found six months after going missing took own life, inquest hears

Matthew Hallam, 32, was found dead on December 6, 2025

A man who was missing for six months took his own life, an inquest has heard. Matthew Hallam, 32, was reported missing from his home in Guilden Morden on July 11, 2025.

He was found dead on December 6, 2025. An inquest into Matthew’s death – heard today (Wednesday, June 17) at Vantage House in Huntingdon – concluded that Matthew died by suicide.

A letter read out to the court by Coroner Simon Milburn, written by Matthew’s father Steven, described the 32-year-old as a “caring” man. Mr Hallam added that “if you were feeling down, he [Matthew] would ask if everything was ok”.

The letter also read that Matthew’s mother had taken her own life in 2016. Steven added that Matthew was “close” with his mother and they “loved each other”.

The court heard how Matthew would go out for regular walks in the afternoon with the family dog, and not return for around two to three hours. On the day of his disappearance, Matthew went out at around 1pm, but without the dog.

He also left personal belongings at home, including his phone, which he normally wouldn’t do. Steven, and Matthew’s brother Ben, who he lived with, became “concerned” when he didn’t return by 3pm. Matthew was reported missing to Cambridgeshire Police at 10pm the same day.

On December 6, 2025, a shooting organiser discovered a body in a secluded woodland. Cambridgeshire Police attended the scene and in a statement read to the court, it was “suspected” this was Matthew as the clothing he was wearing matched a CCTV image from the day he went missing.

Ben Hallam sat in court and thanked those involved in the search for Matthew. He thanked police on the ground for their “initial response” and said he was “deeply grateful” to the grounds keeper who discovered Matthew.

He was also grateful for the local community who “supported in search efforts”. However, Ben criticised Cambridgeshire Police’s “lack of communication” in the months Matthew was missing.

Ben also said he felt “ignored” by the police when trying to enquire about the case. Mr Milburn concluded that Matthew’s death was caused by a “deliberate act”, ruling it as a suicide.