Pensioner, 86, arrested after human remains found in septic tank
West Mercia Police say they believe the remains belong to Brenda Venables, a farmer's wife who went missing in 1982.
Tuesday 30 July 2019 14:34, UK
An 86-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder after the remains of a woman were found in a septic tank in Worcestershire.
West Mercia Police said the discovery was made in the village of Kempsey on 12 July and that the pensioner detained remained in custody.
The force said it believed the remains belonged to Brenda Venables, a farmer's wife who went missing 37 years ago.
It is understood the body was found after the tank was drained during routine maintenance.
Officers were seen carrying out searches at a property in the village on Tuesday.
Police would not be drawn on activity at the scene, other than to say it was "a line of investigation".
A force spokesman said detectives were still awaiting DNA results, but "the general circumstances lead us to believe" that the remains are likely to be those of Brenda Venables.
The 48-year-old was reported missing by her husband David, from their then home in Bestmans Lane, Kempsey.
In May 1982, the Worcester Evening News ran a story on the disappearance of Mrs Venables.
At the time, her husband told the paper: "I just woke up to find that she had gone.
"She has never done anything like this before and I haven't the faintest idea what has happened to her."
The police force has not confirmed the address where the remains were found.
Earlier this month, police investigating the murder of estate agent Suzy Lamplugh in the 1980s carried out searches in nearby Pershore.
It was initially thought the remains found in Kempsey were connected, but police later ruled that out.