Police issue major new update after remains of mum found years after she mysteriously vanished
Police have issued a major new update after the remains of a much-loved mum was found six years after she mysteriously vanished.
The Metropolitan Police were called on the evening of 12 August after bones, thought to belong to a woman aged between 25 and 45, were found at shrubland known as The Pits near Padstow Walk in Feltham after the area was affected by a fire.
The remains were later confirmed to belong to mum-of-three Joanne Sheen, who had not been seen since travelling from Fareham towards her home city of Southampton on 5 December 2019.
Police have said that so far more than 4,000 lines of inquiry have been raised, more than 300 statements taken, and detailed searches carried out at more than 10 addresses and on numerous vessels.
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The new discovery prompted Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary to launch a murder probe.
Officers arrested two men in connection with her death. On Thursday (17 September) a 56-year-old man from Southampton was arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit murder.
As per Metro, police have now confirmed that the suspect has been re-arrested for the same offence and also arrested on suspicion of murder.
The suspect was arrested alongside another man, also 56 aged 56, who was detained on suspicion of conspiracy to commit murder. They have both been bailed amid ongoing enquiries.
Close friend Rachel Roussel, 47, from Southampton, previously said the discovery of the remains of her friend was 'absolutely devastating'.
“It’s something that everybody’s heavily anticipated, and you kind of get yourself ready and prepare yourself for it," she said. “But nothing could prepare you for that, nothing at all.”
“Her daughters are mums themselves now, so they’ve had their babies, and their mum wasn’t there for that.
"To have to go through something like this and to have to be going through it for so long, seven years, is just unfathomable.”
Rachel, who met Joanne in 2003, has launched a fundraiser on GoFundMe to help give her friend 'a send-off that she so rightly deserves'.
“She was just lovely, she’d do anything for you, if you needed to nip to the shop, she’d stay and watch the children," she added.
“She was a devoted mum, a completely devoted mum, every ounce of her energy went into those girls, it was amazing. She was just so much fun to be around, she had a personality that was a bit crazy, but you loved her for it.
“She had a wicked sense of humour, a fantastic laugh that I’ll never forget, she could make you belly laugh until your belly hurt."
Detectives say they are continuing to investigate the suspected murder and are 'actively pursuing all available lines of enquiry.'
They are keen to hear from anyone who may have information about Joanne's movements in Southampton and the surrounding area in late 2019, as well as anyone with information about her movements in London, particularly in and around Feltham/Hounslow, or information that could help establish how she came to be there.
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.
"As our investigation progresses, we remain committed to establishing exactly what happened to Joanne and ensuring that those responsible are held accountable."
Anyone with information is asked to contact 101, quoting Operation Blackboard or reference 44200068330, or report online via Public Portal.
To be eligible for the reward and to stay completely anonymous, contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or online at www.crimestoppers-uk.org.
Topics: UK News
James Holt