Edward Forrester: Cops find ‘partial remains’ of missing man as they release white van pics in murder probe
COPS have discovered “partial remains” of a missing man who was last seen at the start of this month.
Lancashire Police have released images of a white van they want to track down as part of a murder investigation.
Edward Forrester, 55, who is known as Eddie, was last seen in Seafield Road, Blackpool, at 1.31pm on September 1.
He was reported missing the following day.
The force launched a widespread hunt for the man, bringing in specialist search teams, uniformed officers, detectives, search dogs and cops from Cumbria Police.
On September 13 the Lancashire force was contacted by Cumbria Police after partial human remains were found in land off Ashes Lane, Staveley, Kendal.
Following enquiries, the police have now confirmed the partial remains as those of Edward Forrester.
A Home Office post-mortem has been carried out to establish a cause of death but at this time is inconclusive.
Eddie’s family have been made aware of the development and they continue to be supported by specially trained officers.
Further searches will continue in Cumbria in the coming days.
Following consultation with the Crown Prosecution Service, William Wilkinson, 65, of Seafield Road, Blackpool, was charged with Eddie’s murder earlier this month.
He has since appeared at Preston Crown Court where he was remanded to stand trial on March 4, 2024.
Detectives investigating Mr Forrester’s death are continuing to appeal for information, in particular the movements of a white van in the Kendal and Windermere areas of Cumbria between September 3 and September 4.
Det Ch Insp Mark Haworth-Oates, of Lancashire Police’s Force Major Investigation Team, said: “This is a very sad and distressing update which has confirmed our worst fears Eddie has come to harm.
“Eddie’s family have been kept updated throughout our investigation and my thoughts remain with them at this very difficult time.
“Our search enquiries will continue in the coming days in Cumbria.
“We remain keen to trace the movements of a white Peugeot Boxer van, registration KX09 XPA, which was in Blackpool and Lytham St Annes on September 2 and in Cumbria, specifically Kendal and Windermere, on September 3 and 4.
“Any information, seemingly how small or irrelevant, could provide great assistance to our investigation.”