A pensioner was murdered while apparently trying to defend his paedophile neighbour from an attack.
Graham Buck, 66, was found dead in the village of Little Gaddesden, near Berkhamsted in Hertfordshire, on Saturday afternoon.
Hertfordshire Police said that, although formal identification has not taken place, they believe he is Buck - contrary to former reports which named him as Dennis Skinner.
Police are hunting Ian McLoughlin in connection with the murder
His neighbour, named in reports as Francis Cory-Wright, was taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
Cory-Wright was jailed for 30 months in 2011 for indecently assaulting a 10-year-old boy in the 1970s.
Police today confirmed reports that Buck appeared to have been murdered while coming to the aid of a neighbour, but said the men are not believed to be connected in any other way.
Detectives are hunting Ian McLoughlin, said to be "extremely dangerous", in connection with the murder and have released CCTV images of him.
It is thought Cory-Wright and McLoughlin knew each other from jail
Detective Chief Inspector Martin Brunning, from the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Major Crime Unit, said: "I would ask people to look closely at this image and to contact the police if you recognise or recall seeing the person pictured."
"The image is believed to be of Ian McLoughlin who we urgently wish to speak to in connection with the murder."
McLoughlin is described as white, about 6ft and of average build, with greying hair. On the day of the murder he is believed to have been wearing sunglasses, blue jeans and a dark blue, light blue and white checked short-sleeved shirt with a button-down collar.
In a statement, Hertfordshire Police said that although investigations are still under way, it is believed the victim was murdered after going to the aid of a neighbour, but added: "The victim and neighbour are not believed to be connected in any other way."
Brunning added: "We would like to reiterate that we continue to search for an extremely dangerous man and our focus is on finding Ian McLoughlin as soon as possible.
"The nature of this murder investigation is one of significant violence and until he is caught the public are asked not to approach him as he is a very dangerous man."
He urged people to contact police immediately on 999.