Friend speaks out as missing mum's remains are tragically found six years after she suddenly vanished

The friend of a mum whose remains were found six gruelling years after going missing has opened up about the horror discovery.

Rachel Roussel, 47, from Southampton, said the discovery of the remains of her friend and mum-of-three Joanne Sheen, affectionately known as 'Little Jo', was 'absolutely devastating'.

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.

Detectives had launched a murder investigation, but Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary have taken over the investigation after the remains were identified as those of Joanne.

The mum had not been seen since travelling from Fareham towards her home city of Southampton on 5 December 2019.

Police have said that 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.

Since then, a 56-year-old man from Southampton was arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit murder on Thursday (17 September).

Joanne and Rachel were good friends (PA)

"Nothing can prepare you"

Of the police update, Ms Roussel said: “It’s something that everybody’s heavily anticipated, and you kind of get yourself ready and prepare yourself for it.

“But nothing could prepare you for that, nothing at all.”

Rachel said the years of uncertainty had been particularly difficult for Ms Sheen’s three daughters, two of whom she said have since become mothers themselves.

“Her daughters are mums themselves now, so they’ve had their babies, and their mum wasn’t there for that," she explained.

"To have to go through something like this and to have to be going through it for so long, seven years, is just unfathomable.”

Ms Roussel, who met Ms Sheen in 2003, has launched a fundraiser on GoFundMe to help give her friend 'a send-off that she so rightly deserves'.

The pair were good friends (PA)

“Now we can focus on helping the girls, bringing her home, and set about laying her to rest finally, which is what they’ve wanted to do," she added.

“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 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.

“She was a big, big personality, an amazing friend, and she will be very sadly missed, very greatly missed by lots of people.”

Joanne, 44, had not been seen since travelling from Fareham towards her home city of Southampton on December 5 2019.

Joanne vanished in 2019 (Hampshire and Isle of Wight Police)

'Significant development' in investigation

Detective Chief Inspector Toby Elcock of Hampshire and Isle of Wight police said the identification of Joanne's remains is a 'significant development' amid what has been described as a 'long and complex investigation'.

Crimestoppers has since reinstated a £20,000 reward for information.

A Metropolitan Police spokesperson also 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.

Shrubbery appeared to have been burned at a woodland area close to where the police crime scene was in place last month and a large patch of the ground was charred.

An incident log on The London Fire Brigade’s website showed that four fire engines and about 25 firefighters had tackled a grass fire in the area on August 5.

About two hectares of shrubland were damaged in the blaze.

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."

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.