This is Ian Cortis, the twice-convicted rapist who hanged himself on the day police found the body of Amanda Edwards

Police say they had insufficient evidence to charge the man they suspected was involved in the disappearance of Amanda Edwards, when they released him hours before her body was discovered on a building site.

Detectives refused to officially confirm the identity of the suspect, although he is known to have been Ian Cortis, 48, a plasterer and nightclub doorman from Grange Park.

Just hours after his release he was found dead at an address in Calne in an apparent suicide. Police have confirmed they are not looking for anyone else in connection with Amanda's death.

Det Chief Supt Paul Howlett said the decision to release Cortis was taken in consultation with the Crown Prosecution Service and was not made lightly.

Responding to concern about the release, Det Chief Supt Howlett said: "The simple fact is that at that time there was not sufficient evidence to allow any hope of obtaining a successful prosecution in relation to any criminal charge concerning Amanda's disappearance."

Det Chief Supt Howlett explained that applying for extra time to question a suspect required more than a "rubber stamp."

The first extension of 36 hours was granted only on Tuesday evening after a magistrate had been convinced a serious offence had been committed, that the police were working as fast and thoroughly as they could and that the suspect could interfere with the investigation.

The second application for a further 15 hours was made because they could not justify detaining him any longer than that.

"The decision to release the man held in custody was not taken lightly and was taken after a review of all the evidence in our possession at that time and after discussion with the Crown Prosecution Service," said Det Chief Supt Howlett.

He had kept Amanda's family up to date with developments and told them personally of the decision to release Cortis.

He pointed out that the discovery of a body came very close to the time when the full 96 hours would have been up and that the body was not identified as being that of Amanda until the following day.

He revealed that the first intimation a body might be buried at The Knoll, on the outskirts of Malmesbury came at about tea time on Thursday, when one of the specialist body recovery dogs, Eddie, brought in from South Yorkshire and Wales, gave what he called a partial indication that something might be there. But he stressed that was all they had.

At that point, a tent was erected over the spot and it was preserved for excavation by two forensic archaeologists from Birmingham University, who arrived the following morning.

Later that afternoon Amanda's body was finally found, but was wrapped in several different kinds of packaging and, because of the need for a painstaking investigation, it could not be removed until it was taken to the mortuary at Southmead Hospital in Bristol.

At the same time, another package was discovered containing her handbag and other personal possessions.

At that stage they were as certain as they could be that they had found the young nursery nurse who had gone missing eight days earlier.

Up until that moment, while there had been even a shred of hope, officers involved in the hunt had clung to it.

"At the height of the investigation there were 100 officers involved and it is no exaggeration to say we were working round the clock," said Det Chief Supt Howlett.

"Very sadly, our gravest fears were realised. As long as there was no evidence that Amanda had suffered harm, we always felt there was hope."

He said Amanda's parents were still being supported by a family liaison officer as the investigation into her death continues.

"I spent some time with Amanda's parents last week and it is abundantly clear to me that she came from a very loving and close family.

"It is a tragic loss for the family which we can only begin to imagine," he said.

An inquest into Amanda's death is to be opened in Trowbridge on Thursday.

In 1988, Cortis was convicted at Bodmin Crown Court of two rapes that he committed in 1987 and 1988. He was given an eight-year jail term of which he served four-and-a-half years.

He grew up in the Cornish village of Lanner, near Redruth.

At the time of his death he had lived in Lineacre Close, Grange Park, with his wife, Vilette, and their two children, Tyler, five, and Gabriel, one.

A neighbour of Cortis, who wished to remain anonymous, said he was deeply shocked.

He said: "It is all very upsetting. My children played with his little boy. Mr Cortis was a big guy but struck me as being polite and pleasant."

Vilette is believed to have packed her bags and left with the children, two weeks ago.

Janet Blackford, 56, has known Cortis for the past 10 years. They met when she worked at the former Everybodies gym, in Greenbridge, where he was a member.

She said: "He was into bodybuilding and was not very sociable. He kept himself to himself."

Tina Clarke