Murder search ends after grim discovery
A POLICE search of woodland after the discovery of human remains has been scaled down.
A murder investigation was launched when a walker made the grim find on April 4.
They found the body parts of a man – lower back, buttock and thigh – wrapped in sheets of plastic.
Detectives believe the victim was older than 40 and when discovered had only been dead for a matter of days. The find was made in the Kersal Dale area of Salford. No further body parts have been found and a DNA check revealed the victim, who was white, is not on the national police database.
CCTV has been checked as one theory is that the killer or an accomplice may have arrived at the scene by car. The main Bury New Road, a major route in and out of Manchester city centre, is nearby.
One possibility is that other remains may have been disposed of in the nearby River Irwell.
Underwater search units have been used. A check of missing persons is being carried out and the investigation may become international. It is understood there was no clothing which could have helped in identifying the victim.
As well as Kersal Dale, a local beauty spot, the wider adjoining Kersal Wetlands was also searched, which comprises 79 acres of nature reserve land.
Officers from the Tactical Aid Unit, CSI teams and sniffer dogs have been deployed for nearly two weeks.
The search has been made difficult by several days of rain and hail.
A 20-year-old man arrested on Saturday evening on suspicion of murder in connection with the case has been released on bail.
Last week Detective Chief Inspector Andy Naismith of GMP’s Major Incident Team, said: “This is a distressing case.
“At the forefront of our thoughts is our victim. A life has been lost, and our job is to investigate this thoroughly in order to find out answers for a family that will one day suffer the loss of their loved one.”