Headless and limbless body is found in bin
A HEADLESS and limbless body was found stuffed inside a suitcase in a communal bin yesterday as police searched for a missing father.
Forensics officers could be seen removing the dismembered remains as a major inquiry was launched.
The torso, recovered behind flats on Schaw Street, in the Garrowhill area of Paisley, Renfrewshire, will be examined in an effort to establish the identity.
It was understood last night that the head and limbs had yet to be found.
The discovery came amid a police probe into the disappearance of 32-year-old Kevin Bishop, who has been missing since August 4.
Police Scotland confirmed last night that a man has been arrested in connection with his case.
Mr Bishop’s family have also been told about the discovery.
Homeless Mr Bishop, who has a young son, was last seen walking down a street in Paisley.
A campaign to help trace him was launched, with family and friends posting messages on social media and putting up posters.
Last night, relative Kerri Ann Bishop was being comforted by family at her home in Huntly, Aberdeenshire.
Her fiancé Richard Main said: ‘We’re too upset to talk about it.’
The flats where the body was found were cordoned off yesterday, with a forensics tent put up in the garden. Forensics officers were seen arriving at 1pm.
Witnesses described seeing police place a ‘small package’ in a private ambulance soon after.
Police Scotland said it was too early to confirm any details about the remains but a source close to the investigation said the ‘headless and limbless’ body was found in a suitcase in a communal bin.
The source said: ‘Some of the officers involved are pretty shaken up. You certainly don’t see a dismembered body every day.
‘Only the torso was found – there were no legs, arms or head.
‘Not only did that mean officers were unable to identify who it was straight away, it started a frantic search for the rest of the body.
‘Officers will have to trawl landfill sites to try and find his head, arms and legs. As the torso was found in a bin, it’s thought that is where whoever cut up his body put the rest of him.’
A resident of Schaw Street, who did not wish to be named, said: ‘I was sleeping when they arrived but soon the whole road was awake. It’s a quiet wee street, there’s never even any noise.’
Kevin, called ‘Eggy’ by friends, is 6ft 2in tall and has ‘Kevin’ tattooed on the back of his neck.
Miss Bishop posted a picture of her relative and his son on Facebook yesterday, with the plea: ‘Here’s our Kevin with his boy. Please keep sharing. This wee man needs his dad.’ Another family member, Julie Bishop, wrote: ‘All we want is to know Kevin is safe.’
A Police Scotland spokesman said: ‘Human remains have been found and a post-mortem will take place to establish the identity.
‘The family of Kevin Bishop has been made aware.
‘A 46-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the missing persons investigation.’