Joanne Sheen’s remains identified seven years after she went missing

In the recent update, human remains have been discovered in south-west London after a wildfire have been identified as those of a woman who had been missing since 2019.

The 44-year-old Joanne Sheen was last seen when she travelled from Fareham to Southampton with a friend in December 2019.

According to Metropolitan Police officers, they were called to Padstow Walk in Feltham on August 12 after bones were discovered in a patch of scrubland damaged by a fire.

Meanwhile, detectives in London have assigned the investigation over to Hampshire Police after the remains were found to be those of Sheen.

Sheen’s disappearance triggered a police probe that was described by the force as long and complex.

In this connection, police asserted that they had followed more than 4,000 lines of inquiry, taking more than 300 statements and conducting searches at more than 10 addresses and across several vessels.

Det Ch Insp Toby Elcock said: “ 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.”

Police officials have confirmed that human remains were discovered a week ago and the clinical examination further suggests they came from a woman aged between 25 and 45. Given the situation, a Metropolitan Police spokesman confirmed the recovered remains were found by a member of the public at the site close to Bedfont Lakes Country Park.