Police investigating the discovery of a headless torso in Salford say they believe the victim was a man in his 60s who lived with the two arrested suspects.
Officers from Greater Manchester Police (GMP) have spoken to the man’s family but said formal identification of the victim will not happen until next week.
Detectives have been trying to find out who the victim was after his body parts were found wrapped in plastic in Salford’s Kersal Dale Wetlands on April 4.
Now police have revealed human remains have been found at two other locations in Greater Manchester.
Officers believe the two men they arrested on suspicion of the murder earlier this week, aged 42 and 68, were housemates of the victim.
The men remain in custody for questioning as police said they are ‘confident’ they have the right suspects.
The lead officer in the case Det Supt Lewis Hughes said the police believe the victim was a man in his 60s who lived with the two arrested suspects
It comes as the police investigation expanded in recent days with officers spotted at four scenes in the Greater Manchester area. Pictured: A police dog pictured at Blackleach Country Park Reservoir today
At a press conference at 6pm on Sunday, the lead officer in the case Det Supt Lewis Hughes, revealed officers had searched a house in Winton where they believe the victim and one of the suspects lived.
He said they had found evidence he was killed there and believe he may have died in late March.
But the senior officer said there was no evidence of gang activity and ruled out a domestic incident by saying they were not related.
However he said it was ‘too soon to speculate’ on the motive.
It comes as the police investigation expanded in recent days with officers spotted at scenes on Blackleach Reservoir, Linneyshaw Colliery Wood in Salford and Mitchell Street in Bury.
Det Supt Huges has now confirmed a dog walker discovered human remains in a package at Linneyshaw Colliery Wood last night and said he was confident it was the same victim.
Forensic tests will be carried out to confirm if it is the same man.
He also said more human remains were found at Blackleach Reservoir today by police divers.
Formal identification of the victim is expected to be made next week.
Forensics officers were spotted working inside an industrial unit off Mitchell Street in Bury today
A Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service welfare vehicle was pictured at Blackleach Country Park Reservoir today. More human remains were found at the location today
A specialist search unit vehicle was pictured at Blackleach Country Park Reservoir today
It is understood the North West’s Underwater Search and Marine Unit were operating in Blackleach Country Park Reservoir today
A heavy police presence was pictured at Blackleach Country Park throughout the day
The senior officer, of Greater Manchester Police’s serious crime division, said he did not want to specify what remains have been found today due to the victim’s family.
He said specially trained officers had informed his family and would be supporting them at this difficult time.
Det Supt Hughes said: ‘While this is significant progress, we know there is still some way to go to complete this investigation.
‘I also recognise the details of this case will have been particularly distressing for the people of Salford and beyond, including our officers who have worked diligently to progress this investigation, and most importantly, to the man’s heartbroken family.
‘Local officers will continue to patrol the affected areas and we will provide updates when we have information.’
He also made clear that, regarding the warehouse in Mitchell Street in Bury, there was no suggestion that anyone who worked there was involved in the criminal offences. He said it just appeared items were stored there.
Police officers searching the woods at Kersal Dale, near Salford, Greater Manchester, the day after the human remains were found on April 4
Police searching where the dismembered male torso was found earlier this month
A forensic officers walks with a plastic bag full of a number of miscellaneous items on Friday, April 5
Police and forensic officers at Kersal Dale, near Salford, Greater Manchester, on April 5
Officers searching for other body parts at the Kersal Dale nature reserve
The release of the man’s identity comes after more than 100 officers along with search dogs, crime scene investigators and scientists descended on the scene and launched a search of the wetlands and surrounding areas.
A man, 20, was arrested on April 6 on suspicion of murder in connection with the case. He has since been released on bail.
Police temporarily suspended bin collections during their search for other body parts, amid concerns the killer used one to hide remains.
Officers even requested to speak with children who were spotted in the Kersal Dale nature reserve after claiming they may hold ‘crucial information’.
They said on April 17 that after a vast CCTV trawl had uncovered footage of children playing in the area in the days before, and who could hold the information ‘without realising it’.
The police is still appealing to local communities to report anything suspicious they may have seen, heard or witnessed in the crime scene areas.
Anyone with information should call 101, quoting log number 2695 of 04/04/2024, and information can also be passed on anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.
