A second arrest after a woman’s body was found

A further man has been arrested and bailed over the human remains found of a missing Hampshire mother-of-three who disappeared nearly seven years ago.

The Metropolitan Police were called on the evening of August 12 after bones were found at shrubland known as The Pits near Padstow Walk in Feltham, south-west London, after the area was affected by a wildfire.

Detectives launched a murder probe but Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary have taken over the investigation after the remains were identified as those of Joanne Sheen. The 44-year-old had not been seen since she was seen travelling from Fareham to her home in Southampton on December 5 2019.

A 56-year-old man from Southampton was arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit murder on Thursday and was then released on conditional bail pending further inquiries on Friday.

Human remains have been identified as missing Hampshire woman Joanne Sheen who was last seen in December 2019. | Hants Police

A Hampshire Police spokesman confirmed a second man was also arrested on Thursday as part of the probe and was also bailed the following day.

The spokesman said: “As part of our inquiries, a second 56-year-old man from Southampton was re-arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to murder and was further arrested on suspicion of murder.

“He has been bailed with conditions, pending further inquiries.”

Ms Sheen was reported missing by her family in February 2020 and the discovery came after extensive forensic examination and DNA testing of the remains.

A Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary spokesperson had told the Press Association that more than 4,000 lines of inquiry have been raised, more than 300 statements taken and detailed searches carried out at more than 10 addresses and on numerous vessels.

Specialist teams have also searched waterways and woodland around Southampton.

A close friend of Ms Sheen, Rachel Roussel, had told PA that “nothing could prepare” her for the discovery of her friend, affectionately known as “Little Jo”, and it was “absolutely devastating”.

The 47-year-old from Southampton, who met Ms Sheen in 2003, has launched a fundraiser on GoFundMe to help give her friend “a send-off that she so rightly deserves”.