A man’s torso was found in a nature reserve in Greater Manchester, and more human remains have been discovered at two other locations as part of a murder investigation, police have said.
Investigators believe the torso found in Salford is that of a man in his 60s and have informed his family. Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said formal identification of the remains had not yet taken place but should be completed by next week.
At a press conference on Sunday, police said the victim was believed to have known and lived with two men who are currently being held in extended custody for further questioning after being arrested on suspicion of murder.
Detective Inspector Lewis Hughes said police were investigating four crime scenes in the Salford and Greater Manchester area: Worsley Road in Winton, Blackreach Reservoir and Linneyshaw Colliery Forest in Salford and Mitchell Street in Bury. Stated.
The latest skeletons were discovered by police in Blackreach Reservoir and Linneyshaw Colliery Forest on Sunday.
Mr Hughes said officers had already identified two sites and a member of the public had called the force to report finding the package as they were heading into the woods.
He added: “We are confident that it is the same victim.”
Mr Hughes said police had investigated the warehouse in Bury, where “items had been stored without the knowledge of the occupants of the warehouse following this incident” and that the victims “were believed to have been residing with the two persons in custody.” A residence in Winton was also being searched.
The first body, consisting of the bottom of the back, buttocks and thighs, was found by a passerby in clear plastic at Carsall Dale Marshes in Salford on April 4.
The victim is believed to have died in late March.
Mr Hughes, from the GMP Serious Crime Unit, said: “While this is a significant step forward, we know we still have a long way to go to complete this investigation.
“The details of this case will also be of particular interest to those from across Salford, including the police officers who have worked so hard to bring this investigation forward, and, most importantly, to the families of the traumatized men. I also recognize that this is heart-wrenching.
“Local police officers will continue to patrol the affected area and will update you with information as it becomes available.”
Mr Hughes said the force continues to urge the community to report anything suspicious they see, hear or witness at a crime scene.
GMP said the two suspects, aged 42 and 68, both from Salford, were arrested on suspicion of murder on April 25 after officers examined hundreds of hours of CCTV footage.
Police said the 42-year-old was arrested after boarding a bus on Eccles Old Road around midday. The other man was later arrested at an address in Worsley Road.
A 20-year-old man arrested on suspicion of murder was released on bail pending further questioning.
