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Police launch murder inquiry after bodies found in Mansfield garden Police launch murder inquiry after bodies found in Mansfield garden
(about 1 hour later)
Police have launched a murder inquiry after the remains of two people were unearthed in the back garden of a house in a quiet cul-de-sac. Police have launched a murder inquiry after the remains of a husband and wife were unearthed in the back garden of a house in a quiet cul-de-sac.
The bodies were uncovered by officers who were led to the semi-detached house in Mansfield last week after a tipoff.The bodies were uncovered by officers who were led to the semi-detached house in Mansfield last week after a tipoff.
Nottinghamshire police believe the victims are William Wycherley, who would now be 100, and his wife Patricia, 79. The couple moved into the two-bedroom property at Forest Town in 1987, and vanished after 1998. Nottinghamshire police believe the victims are William Wycherley, who would now be 100, and his wife Patricia, who would be 79. The couple moved into the two-bedroom property at Forest Town in 1987, and vanished after 1998.
Postmortem tests have so far proved inconclusive. Detective Chief Inspector Rob Griffin, of Notts police, said: "Whilst it's difficult to ascertain cause of death given the passage of time, the circumstances in which the skeletal remains have been found is suspicious and we have now launched a murder inquiry." DCI Rob Griffin, of Nottinghamshire police, said: "Whilst it's difficult to ascertain cause of death given the passage of time, the circumstances in which the skeletal remains have been found is suspicious and we have now launched a murder inquiry.
He added: "Insofar as suspects are concerned we are entirely open-minded but it's far too early in the investigation to be talking about suspects at this stage. The focus of the investigation is on the Wycherleys themselves and the goings on at 2 Blenheim Close back in the 1990s." "Insofar as suspects are concerned we are entirely open-minded but it's far too early in the investigation to be talking about suspects at this stage. The focus of the investigation is on the Wycherleys themselves and the goings on at 2 Blenheim Close back in the 1990s."
Neighbours said last week they believed that the couple had emigrated after they vanished from the address in the 1990s.Neighbours said last week they believed that the couple had emigrated after they vanished from the address in the 1990s.
One woman, who did not want to be named, said: "I only saw the man a few times. I never saw the lady or any family. I've lived here for 18 years. They were living at the house when I moved in. But they never had any visitors. I never saw anyone coming or going.One woman, who did not want to be named, said: "I only saw the man a few times. I never saw the lady or any family. I've lived here for 18 years. They were living at the house when I moved in. But they never had any visitors. I never saw anyone coming or going.
"My friend and I always used to say 'I wonder what happened to that couple'. They just disappeared. We thought they had emigrated.""My friend and I always used to say 'I wonder what happened to that couple'. They just disappeared. We thought they had emigrated."
It has been reported that family members had been receiving Christmas cards signed "Bill and Pat" up until four years ago.It has been reported that family members had been receiving Christmas cards signed "Bill and Pat" up until four years ago.
Griffin said there was no known motive for the murders as yet. Tests are continuing and he said it would be weeks rather than days before the results were known. Griffin said there was no known motive for the murders as yet. Postmortem tests have so far proved inconclusive but are continuing. Griffin said it would be weeks rather than days before the results were known.
The house, which the couple owned, was sold in 2005. Police said the current owner and tenant were not part of their investigation.The house, which the couple owned, was sold in 2005. Police said the current owner and tenant were not part of their investigation.
Griffin said a key part of the inquiry was who lived at the address between 2000 and 2005. Asked whether he knew who lived there during that period, the officer said: "What happened around that period we're really interested in but at this moment in time, no, we don't know."Griffin said a key part of the inquiry was who lived at the address between 2000 and 2005. Asked whether he knew who lived there during that period, the officer said: "What happened around that period we're really interested in but at this moment in time, no, we don't know."
He said neighbours past and present had described the couple, who are believed to have had a daughter, as "reclusive" and said they kept to themselves. They have never been reported as missing and police have so far been unable to find any trace of them either alive or dead since the late 1990s.He said neighbours past and present had described the couple, who are believed to have had a daughter, as "reclusive" and said they kept to themselves. They have never been reported as missing and police have so far been unable to find any trace of them either alive or dead since the late 1990s.
Griffin said: "At this time we are unable to categorically say that the remains that have been uncovered are those of the Wycherleys but I am confident that the two sets of skeletal remains are indeed those of Patricia and William.Griffin said: "At this time we are unable to categorically say that the remains that have been uncovered are those of the Wycherleys but I am confident that the two sets of skeletal remains are indeed those of Patricia and William.
"I would like anybody who knows or knew Patricia and William, or Bill, as he was known – in fact, sometimes known as Geoff, as that was his middle name – back in the 1990s to come forward today.""I would like anybody who knows or knew Patricia and William, or Bill, as he was known – in fact, sometimes known as Geoff, as that was his middle name – back in the 1990s to come forward today."
He added: "I would also be keen to talk to anybody who lived in the area of Blenheim Close anytime between 1990 and 2005. If they can tell us anything about the address of 2 Blenheim Close, its occupants, its visitors or anything that took place there."He added: "I would also be keen to talk to anybody who lived in the area of Blenheim Close anytime between 1990 and 2005. If they can tell us anything about the address of 2 Blenheim Close, its occupants, its visitors or anything that took place there."
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