A 26-year-old man was found dead at the Nine Ladies Stone Circle on Stanton Moor in Derbyshire during a summer solstice celebration, prompting a murder investigation. Isaac Clare-Watts, from Nottingham, was pronounced dead at the scene shortly after his body was discovered at around 1:30 p.m. on Monday.

Derbyshire Constabulary described Mr. Clare-Watts’ death as occurring in a "most brutal way." A 41-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of murder and remains in police custody as inquiries continue. Officers have appealed to those present at the site or in the surrounding area between June 19 and June 23 to come forward with any information or footage that might assist the investigation.

Inspector Tony Owen, leading the inquiry from the East Midlands special operations unit, emphasized the importance of eyewitness accounts and urged anyone who attended the summer solstice event—regardless of the length of their visit—to contact authorities. “You may have only been there briefly and think you can’t help, but you could hold the key piece of information we need,” he said.

Mr. Clare-Watts was a joiner employed by Nottingham-based building firm Frank Goulding Ltd before leaving last year for a period of travel. His relatives have been informed of his death and are receiving support from the police. His mother, Christy Clare, paid tribute to her son on social media, expressing sorrow and appealing for understanding, noting that they currently have “no words or answers.”

The Nine Ladies Stone Circle is a Bronze Age monument consisting of a small arrangement of standing stones. English Heritage notes it is traditionally associated with a legend that the stones represent nine women petrified as punishment for dancing on a Sunday. The site was among many in the UK attracting visitors over the summer solstice weekend, a time when thousands gathered nationwide to witness the sunrise on the longest day of the year. For example, Stonehenge attracted more than 20,000 people during the same period.

Derbyshire Constabulary has established a Major Incident Public Portal to allow the public to submit information directly and also accepts tips via social media and phone, referencing incident number 26*364216.

The investigation remains ongoing as police work to clarify the circumstances surrounding the death and seek justice for Mr. Clare-Watts and his family.