Human remains found in woodland in southwest London have been identified as those of Joanne Sheen, a mother of three who had been missing since 2019.
Sheen was 44 when she was last seen on December 5, 2019. She had travelled from Fareham to Southampton with a friend that day.
The discovery has brought a major development to a case that remained unresolved for years. Police said the investigation involved thousands of inquiries and extensive searches across Hampshire and London.
Remains Found After Woodland Fire
Metropolitan Police officers were called to Padstow Walk in Feltham on August 12 after a member of the public discovered bones in shrubland.
The area had been damaged by a fire the previous week. London Fire Brigade had attended a blaze on August 5 that affected around two hectares of shrubland at Bedfont Pits.
A post-mortem examination initially indicated that the remains belonged to a woman aged between 25 and 45.
Following further investigation and identification work, police confirmed that the remains were those of Sheen.
The discovery was made close to Bedfont Lakes Country Park, according to the Metropolitan Police.
Investigation Transferred to Hampshire Police
After the identification, detectives in London handed the investigation to Hampshire Police.
A 56-year-old man from Southampton has been arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit murder. He remains in police custody, and no charge has been reported.
Sheen’s disappearance had previously led to a major investigation. Police described the case as long and complex.
Officers followed more than 4,000 lines of inquiry and took more than 300 statements. They also carried out detailed searches at more than 10 addresses and examined numerous vessels.
Several people were arrested in 2020 on suspicion of conspiracy to murder. However, no charges were brought at that time, and the case remained unsolved.
Police Appeal for Information
Detective Chief Inspector Toby Elcock, from the Major Crime Team, said the identification was not the outcome Sheen’s family had hoped for.
He said investigators hoped the discovery would provide some answers after years of uncertainty. He also praised the family’s strength during the long investigation.
Police remain focused on establishing what happened to Sheen. They have urged anyone with information about her disappearance to come forward.
Crimestoppers has also reinstated a £20,000 reward for information that helps the investigation.
Sheen was reported missing by her family in February 2020, around two months after she was last seen.
Police had previously said she did not have a permanent address, a vehicle or a bank account. Those circumstances made tracing her movements particularly difficult.
The latest identification has reopened the investigation into her disappearance. Detectives are now working to establish how her remains came to be found at the Feltham site and what happened to her after she disappeared in 2019.
