The remains of a mother of three who disappeared almost seven years ago have been discovered in London after a wildfire, prompting police to arrest a man on suspicion of involvement in her murder.
The Metropolitan Police were alerted on the evening of August 12 when a member of the public found bones near Padstow Walk in Feltham, south-west London. The discovery was made after the area had been affected by a fire, and the remains were initially believed to belong to a woman aged between 25 and 45.
Detectives opened a murder investigation, which has since been transferred to Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary after forensic work identified the remains as those of Joanne Sheen.
Joanne, 44, was last seen on December 5, 2019, when she travelled from Fareham in Hampshire towards Southampton, the city where she lived.
Her family reported her missing in February 2020 after several months had passed without any contact.
A 56-year-old man from Southampton was arrested on Thursday on suspicion of conspiracy to commit murder. He remains in police custody while enquiries continue.
Joanne’s identity was confirmed following extensive forensic analysis and DNA testing.
On September 3, 2020, Joanne’s daughters, Layla and Hayley, appeared on ITV Meridian to make an emotional appeal for information. They were 22 and 25 at the time.
The sisters said their mother had occasionally gone several weeks without contacting relatives, so her initial silence did not immediately seem unusual. However, their fears grew as the months passed with no word from her.
Police said in November 2020 that they believed Joanne had been working as a sex worker in Southampton around the time she vanished.
Officers searched the streets where she was thought to have worked, as well as a nearby river, but found no trace of her at the time.
A spokesperson for Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary said the investigation had generated more than 4,000 lines of enquiry and led to over 300 statements being taken. Police also carried out detailed searches at more than 10 properties and on a number of vessels.
Joanne Sheen, 44, was last seen on December 5, 2019, as she travelled from Fareham in Hampshire towards her home city of Southampton
Police officers near the woodland in Feltham, south-west London, where Joanne Sheen’s remains were discovered
A member of the public found the remains after nearby land had been damaged by a recent wildfire
Specialist officers have also conducted searches of waterways and woodland in and around Southampton as they worked to establish what happened to Joanne.
The force 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 while our enquiries continue.
“As the investigation moves into this next phase, we are working closely with colleagues from the Metropolitan Police to establish the circumstances surrounding Joanne’s death.
“Her death is being treated as murder, and we remain determined to identify those responsible and bring them 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
