A 47-YEAR-OLD man has been named as the victim in an ongoing murder investigation.

Elliot Handley was found dead at a property in Dorchester at The Grove in Dorchester on Tuesday night.

Police have this morning released a photograph of Mr Handley.

A spokesman for Dorset Police added that the circumstances leading up to the murder has been referred to the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) as the force had "prior contact" to the people involved leading up to the murder.

Officers confirmed to the Echo that an address near Weymouth has also been searched in connection with the murder.

Two police cars and a dog unit attended Icen Farm Industrial Estate in Bincombe yesterday and carried out a search of the area.

Meanwhile, three people arrested on suspicions of Mr Handley's murder have now been bailed.

A 43-year-old man from Dorchester arrested on Tuesday evening on suspicion of murder has been bailed to a secure hospital. 

Two people also arrested on suspicion of murder Wednesday morning a 47-year-old man from Dorchester and a 69-year-old man from Weymouth have been bailed until mid-June 2015.

Police are now appealing for information about Mr Handley’s recent movements.

He was last seen in Truro, Cornwall on Thursday, May 21 and police believe he may have then made his way to Dorset.

Mr Handley, from Eastleigh in Hampshire, is described as white, of slim build and average height and clean shaven with short dark hair with a tattoo on both arms.

His clothing is said to have possibly been a light brown jumper over a blue or green t-shirt and a black padded jacket on top.

He was also likely to be carrying a blue North Face rucksack with yellow straps and an acoustic guitar.

Detectives are now urging anyone with any knowledge of Mr Handley’s recent movements to come forward.

Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Inspector Neil Devoto, of Dorset Police MCIT, said: “Enquiries are still underway as we try to establish the exact circumstances leading up to Elliot’s death.

“I am appealing to anyone who may have seen Elliot between Thursday, May 21 and Tuesday, May 26, or had recent contact with him, to contact me urgently.

“I would also like to hear from anyone who may have seen anything suspicious in The Grove on the evening of Tuesday, May 26 2015 or who has any other information that could be useful, as soon as possible. Please call 101, quoting Op Brisk. All calls will be treated in strict confidence.”

Officers are also continuing to carrying out enquiries in the area.

Crime scene investigators and detectives returned to Compass House at The Grove in the county town yesterday morning to continue to investigate the death.

The cordoned off area, which includes Compass House, the Dorchester Collection car dealership and a neighbouring property, remains in place.

Police swooped on Compass House on The Grove in the county town late on Tuesday night and discovered a man’s body in the residential property above the Dorchester Collection car dealership.

The man was declared dead at the scene by paramedics.

A spokesman for Dorset Police said the murder was not linked to the arrests of two people in Weymouth on Tuesday afternoon, which was in relation to a separate murder probe after the body of Phillip Nicholson, 22, from Poole, was found in Bournemouth.

Police officers were stationed around the car dealership throughout yesterday, and the force’s scientific investigators also attended the scene around midday to examine the residential flat and the rest of the site.

Police officers also conducted house-to-house enquiries throughout yesterday.

Senior investigating officer, Detective Chief Inspector Jez Noyce, of Dorset Police’s MCIT, said: “Following the discovery of a man’s body, Dorset Police has launched a murder investigation.

“Enquiries are now underway to establish exactly what happened yesterday.

“I am appealing to anyone who may have seen anything suspicious in The Grove or has any other information that could be useful, to please call my urgently.

“All calls will be treated in strict confidence.”

Witnesses and anyone with information are urged to call Dorset Police in confidence on 101 quoting incident Operation Brisk, or call the free and anonymous Crimestoppers line on 0800 555 111.