Salford murder victim named and pictured after human remains found
Daisy Jackson
The victim of a major murder investigation in Salford has been named and pictured by police.
Detectives are ‘confident’ that the victim is Stuart Everett, 67, though formal identification is yet to take place.
A major investigation was launched on 4 April after body parts wrapped in plastic were found in Kersal Dale.
Further human remains were then discovered at Blackleach Reservoir and Colliery Wood over last weekend.
DNA samples have been sent away for urgent forensic analysis, after which the victim’s identity will be formally confirmed.
Stuart’s family are being supported by specially-trained GMP officers.
GMP said: “In the last 48 hours they have heard the most devastating news that anyone could hear, and our thoughts remain with them as they begin to process this.”
Two men have been charged with murder and will appear at Manchester Crown Court this morning.
A large police presence will continue to be deployed around Salford as GMP looks to recover more evidence.
The remains found at the other three locations in Salford are still to be tested, but GMP says it is ‘confident’ that they belong to the same victim.
Detective Superintendent Lewis Hughes from GMP’s Serious Crime Division, said: “My thoughts and the thoughts of officers and staff across Greater Manchester Police are with Stuart’s family at this traumatic time. Family Liaison Officers are supporting them through each update in our investigation.
“On behalf of Stuart’s loved ones, I ask the public and the press to please respect their wishes for peace and privacy while they process this most devastating news.
“My officers and detectives, alongside additional resources from across the force, have worked tirelessly over the last three days to secure charges.
“We are grateful for the public’s continued help and support throughout this case. We understand the shockwaves this has caused throughout the community and beyond, and we hope you are reassured by the pace of our investigation and also our large police presence in the areas as we continue to make enquiries.
“We have officers drawn from different teams and units in GMP who have helped us search and their efforts do not go unnoticed, and they have all played an important role to help us get to this stage in our investigation.
“We said right at the start that our investigation will not stop until we have every stone unturned, and this continues to be the case. Our investigation has been a huge process so far, and we will continue to push forward in our enquiries to find answers for Stuart’s family.”
Michal Jaroslaw Polchowski (25/04/1956) and Marcin Majerkiewicz (10/04/1982) both of Worsley Road, Eccles, have been charged with murder. They are due to appear at Manchester Crown Court this morning (30 April 2024).
Victim identified in Kersal murder investigation as more remains are found in Salford
Danny Jones
Police have ‘confidently’ confirmed the identity of a man murdered in Salford after more remains were found as part of the investigation into a male torso discovered in a nearby nature reserve, with other body parts since located at another two nearby spots.
The victim, now believed to be a man in his 60s, was initially discovered in Kersal Wetlands after a passerby stumbled across the remains on 4 April, with police setting up a forensic tent and a large cordon around the area.
Having swept the surroundings and acted on further intelligence, more human remains were also found at Blackleach Reservoir in Walkden and a local dog walker also found a package containing body parts at Linnyshaw Colliery Woods on Saturday evening (27 April).
It is thought that the identity of the latest body parts should be fully confirmed this week following further forensic tests but the authorities have now contacted the victim’s next of kin.
#UPDATE | Following developments this weekend in #Salford we are confident we have identified the victim, with his family being supported since.
This is after further human remains were found, with two men remaining in custody for questioning.
The as-yet-unknown man is said to have died a number of days before his torso was discovered at the start of the month and multiple individuals have been arrested in connection to the case over the last few weeks.
A 20-year-old man from the local area was brought in for questioning just four days after the initial discovery, along with a 42-year-old who was detained after he boarded a bus earlier last week and a 68-year-old who was arrested at a property in Winton.
Searches were also carried out at a Warehouse in Bury with household items being found there. Greater Manchester Police say they still have two people, both thought to be known to the victim, in custody.
Detective Superintendent Lewis Hughes, Senior Investigating Officer for the case, issued a full statement to the media this weekend, insisting that GMP are “very confident that this is also the victim in our investigation.
He also went on to reveal that authorities are also searching the house in Winton as it is thought to be “where we believe the victim and the two suspects lived”, with evidence also indicating that he is likely to have died there sometime in late March.
DSI Hughes went on to add: “While this is significant progress, we know there is still some way to go to complete this investigation.
“I also recognise details of this case will have been distressing for the people of Salford and beyond – including the officers that are diligently working on this investigation, and most importantly the man’s heartbroken family.
“Local officers will continue to patrol the affected areas, and we will provide updates when we have more information.”