Alice Gross suspect Arnis Zalkalns is likely to be dead, his former partner’s mum reportedly claimed yesterday.

Mr Zalkalns, who was jailed in Latvia for killing ex-wife Rudite, 22, was caught on CCTV cycling at one of the spots where Alice was last seen.

He then vanished on September 3, a week after Alice and the same day that police announced they had found CCTV footage of Alice on the canal.

Arnis Zalkalns caught on CCTV 15 minutes after Alice Gross

Gunta Mecize, 60, told The Sun newspaper over the weekend that the builder regularly called and sent cash for his kids in Latvia — but has not since vanishing. She is also quoted as saying that he would never hurt a young girl.

Gunta Mecize told the tabloid: “We think he’s dead. We’re hoping he isn’t, but his two mobiles aren’t working and his bank accounts haven’t been used.

Arnis Zalkalns
Arnis Zalkalns

“Something is very wrong. I know he’s dead because when I put my hand on his photo I get a cold feeling.

“Until a few days ago his Latvian mobile worked. We texted and called and sometimes someone would pick up. But now it’s dead.”

She insisted he had nothing to do with Alice, 14, vanishing and suggested he may have been killed after spotting the culprit.

Her claim came as police announced that the search for Alice has turned into the biggest hunt since the 7/7 terror blasts with  600 police officers from eight forces are looking for the 14-year-old.
Gunta’s daughter Liga Rubezniece, 34, also told The Sun newspaper that she last heard from Zalkalns by text on August 29 — a day after Alice went missing near Brentford, West London.

Missing schoolgirl Alice Gross
Missing schoolgirl Alice Gross

Liga, mum to two of his kids, said: “Once a week he rang to ask how they were. He texted saying he’d send money on September 1. It arrived and that was the last I heard.”

But Gunta said at home in Liepaja, Latvia: “He has a daughter and wouldn’t do anything to a child.

“He must have seen something and been killed because he stumbled across something bad.

“We’re so worried about him. Liga’s in pieces.

“She and his kids want to know he’s OK but we fear the worst.”

Gunta was also shocked cops had not quizzed them.

She said: “No one’s asked what we know about Arnis. Our only information is from his partner in England.”

Last night Latvian police would only say they were liaising with UK officers.

The Met has trawled nine square miles of land and 3½ miles of waterways in its probe.

It also scoured Zalkalns’ home in Ealing, West London, and seized his bike from his former pad nearby.

Det Supt Carl Mehta vowed: “We will not stop our hunt for Alice.”