A new map shows everywhere police have found body parts wrapped in cling film as a murder probe continues.
Detectives leapt into action on April 4 after a passerby found a lower back, buttocks and a thigh wrapped in multiple sheets of cellophane at Kersal Dale nature reserve in Salford, Greater Manchester. The discovery began a 12-day search of the area, with a huge cordon left in place for almost two weeks as efforts to identify the victim continued.
In recent days, a rush of new discoveries have also been made across Manchester. More human remains were discovered on Monday morning in an alleyway close to railway lines in Eccles. Over the weekend, four separate police cordons were put in place in Walkden, Winton, Salford and Bury. Greater Manchester Police confirmed that further human remains had been found. A dog walker found a package containing human remains in Salford, while in Walkden they were discovered by a diving team.
Below is a map of all the places in Manchester that police have been cordoned off as part of the investigation so far:
Formal identification has not yet been taken place, but police believe the victim is a man in his 60s who lived in Salford. On Monday, Michal Jaroslaw Polchowski, 68, and Marcin Majerkiewicz, 42, from Eccles were charged with murder. They are due to appear at Tameside Magistrates Court this afternoon.
The bodies have so far been found in Old Linnyshaw Colliery Woods in Walkden, Blackleach Country Park in Walkden, Kersal Dale in Salford and Worsley Street in Eccles. A house on Worsley Road has also been searched by police.
Police have said they believe the victim died in March, and forensics were searching a property in connection with the case. It is thought the victim was residing in the same house as the suspects in the Winton area, but they were not related. Evidence suggests he died in the home.
ACC Sarah Jackson said: “We have had large numbers of officers, staff and specialists working diligently on this investigation over the last three weeks. It has been very much a large, collective effort, with the victim and family at the heart of it from the outset. We have specially trained officers deployed to support the family as they come to terms with this tragic news. They are aware of this morning’s further discovery and will continue to be kept up to date with how we are progressing.
“Despite the charges brought today, our work is far from over. The scenes we have already established in Bury and Salford will remain in place for much of this week while our searches and inquiries continue. Local officers will continue to patrol the impacted areas to provide reassurance.
“We will continue following every line of inquiry to recover and reunite the victim with his family, bringing a dignified end to this terrible scenario. I’d like to thank the communities of Salford and beyond for their cooperation throughout this investigation. I know this incident has come as a shock, and the support we’ve had from those in the area is very much appreciated.”
On Sunday, Greater Manchester Police Detective Superintendent Lewis Hughes, Senior Investigating Officer said police were “very confident” that the body parts found over the weekend belonged to the victim in their investigation. Searches were likely to continue for a “number of days”, he said.
