SECOND MAN ARRESTED AFTER WILDFIRE UNCOVERS REMAINS OF MISSING MUM JOANNE SHEEN

A second man has been arrested after human remains uncovered following a wildfire in west London were identified as those of a mother-of-three who disappeared nearly seven years ago.

Joanne Sheen, 44, from Southampton, had not been seen since December 5, 2019, when she travelled from Fareham towards her home city by train with a friend.

Her family reported her missing in February 2020.

For years, investigators searched for answers. More than 4,000 lines of inquiry were generated, more than 300 statements were taken and searches were carried out at more than 10 addresses, as well as on waterways and woodland around Southampton.

WILDFIRE LED TO DISCOVERY

The case took a dramatic turn on August 12, 2026, when police were called after human bones were discovered near Padstow Walk in Feltham, southwest London.

The area, known locally as The Pits and located close to Bedfont Lakes Country Park, had recently been affected by a wildfire.

The remains were initially believed to belong to a woman aged between 25 and 45. Extensive forensic examination and DNA testing later confirmed they were those of Joanne.

Police subsequently launched a murder investigation, with Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary taking over the case from the Metropolitan Police following the identification.

Authorities are now treating Joanne’s death as murder.

TWO MEN ARRESTED

The latest development came on September 17, when a 56-year-old man from Southampton was arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit murder.

Police then made a further move in the investigation.

On September 20, another 56-year-old Southampton man was rearrested, this time on suspicion of murder, according to police. The man had previously been arrested in connection with the case.

The two men were subsequently released on bail with conditions while further inquiries continue.

No charges have been announced against either man, and the allegations have not been tested in court.

Police have not publicly identified the men.

A LONG AND COMPLEX INVESTIGATION

Joanne’s disappearance has remained an unresolved mystery since 2019.

Five people were arrested in 2020 on suspicion of conspiracy to murder her, but all were later released with no further action.

Investigators continued examining potential leads. In 2023, officers searched a property in Southampton and carried out a boat search in the Solent. Further searches of properties in the city were conducted the following year.

The discovery in Feltham has now opened a new chapter in the investigation.

Detective Chief Inspector Toby Elcock said the identification of Joanne’s remains was a significant development that had created several new lines of inquiry.

He said the discovery was not the outcome Joanne’s family had hoped for, but expressed hope that it could finally provide some answers after years of uncertainty.

Police are continuing to appeal to anyone who may have information about Joanne’s disappearance, her movements before she vanished, or how she came to be in Feltham.

A £20,000 Crimestoppers reward has also been reinstated for information that could assist the investigation.

JOANNE’S FAMILY HAD WAITED YEARS FOR ANSWERS

Before her remains were identified, Joanne’s daughters had spoken publicly about the pain of not knowing what had happened to their mother.

Her daughter Hayley previously described Joanne as a “lovely, loving person” and spoke about the uncertainty the family endured while she remained missing.

Now, nearly seven years after Joanne was last seen, investigators have confirmed what happened to her remains — but many questions remain unanswered.

Police are still working to establish the circumstances surrounding her death and how she came to be at the Feltham site.

For Joanne’s family, the discovery may finally provide part of the truth they have been waiting for, while the investigation continues to determine who was responsible and what happened in the final days of her life.