The remains of a mother-of-three who disappeared almost seven years ago have been found in London after a wildfire swept through the area, prompting police to arrest a man in connection with a murder investigation.
A member of the public discovered the bones near Padstow Walk in Feltham on the evening of August 12, after the area had been affected by a blaze.
The Metropolitan Police were called to the scene and initially opened a murder inquiry, believing the remains could belong to a woman aged between 25 and 45.
Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary has since taken over the case after the remains were formally identified as those of Joanne Sheen.
Ms Sheen, 44, was last seen on December 5, 2019, when she travelled from Fareham, Hampshire, towards her home city of Southampton.
Her family reported her missing in February 2020 after they had gone several months without hearing from her.
A 56-year-old Southampton man was arrested on Thursday on suspicion of conspiracy to commit murder and remains in police custody.
The identification followed extensive forensic work and DNA testing on the remains.
Joanne Sheen, 44, had not been seen since travelling from Fareham, Hampshire, towards her home city of Southampton on December 5, 2019.
Police near the woodland scene in Feltham, south-west London, where Ms Sheen’s remains were discovered.
The remains were found by a member of the public after the nearby land was affected by a recent wildfire
On September 3, 2020, Joanne’s daughters Layla and Hayley, who were 22 and 25 at the time, went on ITV Meridian and made an emotional public appeal for help to find her.
They said it was not out of character for Joanne to occasionally not make contact with her family for some weeks, but as time went by they became increasingly concerned.
In November 2020, police revealed they believed Joanne was a sex worker in Southampton around the time she went missing.
Officers have combed the streets where she was believed to have worked, a nearby river and woodland in a bid to uncover anything but were unable to locate Ms Sheen.
A Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary spokesperson since her disappearance, said that more than 4,000 lines of enquiry have been raised, more than 300 statements taken, and detailed searches carried out at more than 10 addresses and on numerous vessels.
Specialist teams have also searched waterways and woodland around Southampton.
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A police spokesperson said: ‘As part of our investigation, we have today arrested a 56-year-old man from Southampton on suspicion of conspiracy to commit murder.
‘He remains in custody at this time as our enquiries continue.
‘As our investigation enters this next stage, we are working closely with our colleagues in the Metropolitan Police to establish exactly what happened to Joanne.
‘Her death is being treated as murder, and we remain committed to identifying and bringing those responsible to justice.’
Detective Chief Inspector Toby Elcock, from the major crime team, said: ‘This is a significant development in what has been a long and complex investigation and provides us with several new lines of enquiry, which we are exploring with our dedicated team.
‘While this tragic discovery is not the outcome Joanne’s family, or any of us, had hoped for, we hope the identification of her remains can at least begin to provide some answers after many years of uncertainty.
‘Throughout this investigation, Joanne’s family have shown tremendous strength and dignity in the face of unimaginable circumstances, and our thoughts remain with them at this incredibly difficult time.
‘As our investigation progresses, we remain committed to establishing exactly what happened to Joanne and ensuring that those responsible are held accountable.
‘There may still be people who have information about Joanne’s disappearance, her movements before she went missing, or how she came to be in Feltham.
‘The passage of time does not lessen the importance of that information. No matter how small or insignificant it may seem, we would urge anyone who may know something to come forward.
‘We understand that coming forward may feel difficult, particularly if you are worried about the consequences, but we are asking you to think about the family who are left without their loved one and who are waiting for answers. Please do the right thing. If you know something, now is the time to come forward.
‘We are also pleased that Crimestoppers has agreed to reinstate its £20,000 reward offer in support of our investigation. If anyone has information but does not feel comfortable speaking directly to police, I would encourage them to contact Crimestoppers anonymously.’
A Metropolitan Police spokesman confirmed that the remains were found by a member of the public after the nearby land was affected by a recent wildfire.
The site is close to Bedfont Lakes Country Park.
This is a breaking news story. More to follow