'No logical reason' for missing X Factor star's disappearance, admit cops
Spanish police searching for Levi Davis have admitted for the first time they do not think the missing X Factor and rugby star went missing 'voluntarily'.
The 24-year-old has not been seen since he vanished in Barcelona when CCTV footage showed him leaving an Irish pub in October last year.
Levi arrived in the city on October 29 by boat after spending time with pal Richard Squire in Ibiza where they had been working on songs together.
Little news has come out about his whereabouts since then, although his passport was found by the port.
Earlier today it was reported the rugby player's disappearance is now being investigated by a specialist criminal investigation unit in Spain.
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Now a spokesman for the Catalan Mossos d’Esquadra police force revealed there is no "logical" explanation for Levi's disappearance, adding it is is now being treated as "disturbing".
Missing Levi Davis disappeared last October (Bath Rugby/BPM Media)He added: "With the information at our disposal, it doesn’t appear that this person has gone missing voluntarily and doesn’t want to be found.
“We’re dealing with an adult male whose disappearance doesn’t have a logical explanation and which we’re therefore treating as disturbing.
“It doesn’t necessarily mean he’s been the victim of a crime and it’s important to clarify that the group that’s now investigating this person’s disappearance is not a murder squad or homicide unit because that would mean there is a probability or certainty he is dead.
“What it is is a unit which has been tasked with this case following the initial investigation by officers at the station where this person was reported missing.
Levi has not been seen since October last year (S Meddle/ITV/REX)
Levi played for Bath during his rugby career (Bath Chronicle)"This case was initially investigated by a group of officers at the police station the disappearance was first reported to in Barcelona.
“That’s the general procedure in cases where there are no obvious or very evident signs a disappearance is linked to a crime.
“Now this case is being led by a specialist investigative unit based in Barcelona.
“The officers working for the unit are specialised in dealing with disappearances that could be criminal and have been categorised that way because of their disturbing nature as well as the amount of time which has passed."
CCTV footage showed the missing rugby star leaving the pub in Barcelona (Mirror.co.uk)The latest reports on the mystery point to Levi sending a message to a friend on WhatsApp a few minutes past midnight on October 30.
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The spokesman added: "We can’t go into detail about the exact nature of the probe because that could prejudice the ongoing investigation.
"But there has been a change in the way the investigation is being conducted.
“That’s the novelty. The probe remains open and we hope to resolve it in the best way possible and as fast as possible.”
Levi was on a break in Europe following an injury (Beretta/Sims/REX/Shutterstock)
Specialist investigators in Barcelona have taken over the case (Mike Marsland/Getty Images for Verve Pictures)In the voice note Davis told his friend Barcelona was “absolutely beautiful” according to the BBC.
The message was the last known contact he had with any of his friends and family.
Levi was taking a break in Europe after being sidelined from rugby following a knee injury.
He was picked up on CCTV leaving the Old Irish Pub near Barcelona’s La Rambla around 10pm on October 29, a few hours after taking a boat from Ibiza with just £35 (€40) and no change of clothes.
Levi was last seen in The Old Irish Pub in Barcelona (GTres / SplashNews.com)After the rugby player was reported missing, a social media appeal was launched.
CCTV showed him carrying a small black rucksack, while wearing a white short-sleeved T-shirt, black trousers and black and white trainers.
He had left Ibiza abruptly with barely any money, spare clothes or passport, according to his close friend Richard Squire.
He said recently: "I'm dealing with people I've never met before, you don't know what information is right, what information is wrong. And it's just incredibly upsetting.
"Even though it's four months it still feels like the first day every day. And it's difficult, it's hard."
His mother Julie previously told Good Morning Britain she last heard from her son when he rang her and asked for money.
Levi playing for Bath in October 2019 (CameraSport via Getty Images)
Levi attending the launch of the X Factor: Celebrity in 2019 (Mike Marsland/WireImage)She said: "Also on that night, he made a phone call to me to say he was thinking of staying at a hostel here before I take my next journey. I said, 'oh Levi, how many more times do you wanna take money off me?' You're going to have to sort yourself out this time."
A private investigator brought into help the search offered a £10,000 reward for information on Levi's whereabouts.
He added he believed Levi was in hiding as he was being blackmailed over an explicit photograph.
The rugby ace posted a video online about being blackmailed by thugs who had threatened to kill him before the post was removed from his social media profiles.
Investigator Gavin Burrows tweeted: "Following Levi Davis' case being brought to light, we have received valuable alleged information from a number of former participants & other fellow contestants over a number of years, in the X-Factor program who have confirmed the claims made in Davis' video seem to be true."
Levi featured on ITV's Celebrity X Factor in 2019 alongside fellow rugby players Ben Foden and Thom Evans in a singing group called Try Star.
He also appeared on E4's Celebs Go Dating in 2020.
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