The man suspected of murdering missing mum Leza McCormack has committed suicide ,, dashing hopes of ever finding her.

The man suspected of murdering missing mum Leza McCormack has committed suicide ,, dashing hopes of ever finding her.

Leza's former boyfriend Dean Stone, 30, of Whetstone, was found dead after slashing his wrists in his cell at Bedford Jail where he was awaiting sentence for burglary.

Just weeks earlier he had gone on the run after stabbing a custody officer in the face while being transferred from court to prison.

Police had questioned Stone over Leza's disappearance but failed to gather enough evidence to arrest him.

Mum-of-three Leza, 34, went missing in January ,, three weeks after her council flat in Simmons Close, Whetstone, was firebombed. She was forced to move to Cardrew Close in North Finchley after the attack.

A police source said: 'Stone was suspected of being involved with her disappearance but was never arrested because of lack of evidence. He was questioned but refused to answer. There was nothing they could do.'

Stone was linked to a blue Ford Fiesta being snatched from outside Leza's neighbour's house around the time she went missing. He also went missing at the time but was found after police appealed for information on his whereabouts. The vehicle was later recovered 120 miles away in Gloucestershire containing a spade with fresh earth stuck to it.

Despite an emotional appeal from Leza's brother Michael Howard for information on her whereabouts, there has been no trace of her for eight months. No withdrawals have been made from her bank account and she took no belongings with her. She has not been in touch with her children, Rory, ten, Jesse, eight, and Sydney, two, who are all being looked after by relatives.

A police spokeswoman said: 'The investigation into her disappearance is still active and we are following other lines of inquiry.'

Anyone with any information on Leza should call Colindale CID on 020 8733 5838.