Remains found after London wildfire identified as mother-of-three missing since 2019
Remains found after London wildfire identified as mother-of-three missing since 2019. Image source, Police handoutImage caption, Joanne Sheen was last seen in December 2019ByCurtis LancasterSouth of EnglandPublished17 September 2026, 14:37 BSTUpdated 2 hours agoHuman remains discovered in woodland in south-west London following a wildfire have been identified as a woman who has been missing since 2019.
What happened
Image source, PA MediaImage caption, The human remains were found after a wildfire in south-west LondonPolice said they had followed more than 4,000 lines of inquiry, taken more than 300 statements and carried out detailed searches at more than 10 addresses and on numerous vessels. Human remains found in London belong to Joanne Sheen from Southampton, police confirm. Mother-of-three Joanne Sheen, then aged 44, was last seen when she travelled from Fareham to Southampton with a friend on 5 December 2019.
Detectives in London have now handed the investigation over to Hampshire Police after the remains were identified as those of Sheen. Image source, PA MediaImage caption, The area damaged by the fire was cordoned off after the remains were found by a member of the publicLondon Fire Brigade was called on 5 August to a blaze that damaged about two hectares of shrubland in an area known as Bedfont Pits. A Metropolitan Police spokesman confirmed the remains were found by a member of the public at the site close to Bedfont Lakes Country Park.
Related topicsHampshire & Isle of WightSouthamptonLondonMore on this storyNew police searches in five-year hunt for mumPublished5 February 2025Murder probe after wildfire uncovers body in parkPublished21 AugustRelated internet linksHampshire Police
The wider picture
Skip to content Menu Home | Gracious Nkomo identified among bodies found in Kempton Park A picture of Gracious Nkomo as published the South African Police Service. So far, police say nine women have been found murdered in the Ekurhuleni region since July this year. A 56-year-old man from Southampton has been arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit murder and he remains in police custody. Det Ch Insp Toby Elcock, from the Major Crime Team, said: "While this tragic discovery is not the outcome Joanne's family, or any of us, had hoped for, we hope the identification of her remains can at least begin to provide some answers after many years of uncertainty.
The human remains were discovered a week later, and a post-mortem examination suggested they had come from a woman aged between 25 and 45. Sheen was reported missing by her family in February 2020 – two months after she was last seen. Image Credits : Facebook: SAPS SABC 17 September 2026, 18:42 [SAST] Police have confirmed the identity of another woman whose body was found along the R21 in Kempton Park, east of Johannesburg, last week. Twenty-eight-year-old Gracious Nkomo was identified by her family at the Germiston Mortuary today.
What has been reported
She was one of three women whose bodies were discovered in the area on September 10th. The SAPS says investigations into her murder are being conducted alongside the cases involving the other women found in the area. The call comes amid the discovery of nine women’s bodies across Ekurhuleni since July this year. #NotInMyName General Secretary Themba Masango says the public will be asked to sign a pledge against gender-based violence. Metropolitan Police officers were called to Padstow Walk in Feltham on 12 August after bones were discovered in an area of shrubland damaged by a fire the previous week.
Sheen's disappearance sparked a major police investigation, which the force described as "long and complex". "Throughout this investigation, Joanne's family have shown tremendous strength and dignity in the face of unimaginable circumstances, and our thoughts remain with them at this incredibly difficult time. "As our investigation progresses, we remain committed to establishing exactly what happened to Joanne and ensuring that those responsible are held accountable. "He stressed that the police would still like to hear from anyone with information about Sheen's disappearance.
What happens next
Crimestoppers has agreed to reinstate a £20,000 reward for information that supports the investigation. Several people were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to murder in 2020, but no charges were brought and the investigation remained unsolved. Police previously said she did not have a permanent place of address, a vehicle or a bank account. Police say investigations into the murders are continuing, as a multidisciplinary team works to establish the circumstances surrounding the deaths. “Police say Nkomo’s identification brings some clarity to the investigation into the women whose bodies were discovered in the Kempton Park area.
Police are appealing for any information that could assist investigators to come forward. Ekurhuleni Murders | Spotlight on the role of society in the fight against GBVF: Meanwhile, the #NotInMyName organisation is calling on men to take a stronger stand against gender-based violence and femicide in South Africa.
The report has been compiled by The Daily Waves using information reported across bbc.co.uk, sabcnews.com. Details are presented according to the information available at the time of publication and may change as authorities, organisers or other relevant parties provide updates.