HUMAN remains have been found dumped in remote woods in Cornwall following the hunt for a missing man, but police have disputed claims that multiple bodies have been discovered at the site.
The body of Daniel Coleman, 43, was found in Paramoor Woods in St Austell, Cornwall, earlier this month, with detectives charging a local man with his murder.
However, conflicting statements have emerged after Devon and Cornwall Police and Crime Commissioner Alison Hernandez told a police panel today that “dead bodies” had been discovered in the woodland, prompting immediate denial from senior investigating officers.
Commissioner’s Controversial Claims
Speaking at a Devon and Cornwall Police and Crime Panel today, Ms Hernandez said a probe had been launched, with officers still desperate to establish how many bodies are in the area.
“We’ve got a huge forensic tent down there. Lots of forensics officers, obviously we’ve found dead bodies in that wood,” Ms Hernandez told the panel.
“We’re just trying to establish how many there may be at this point in time and whether we are aware of who they are or what might have happened to them. So we also don’t know how long they may have been there, some of them.”
She added: “Some of the elements of that operation I can’t speak about but some of the things are very obvious. As you know there is a large crime scene that has been identified in Cornwall that is requiring a lot of effort to even scene guard the area.”
Police Force Denies Multiple Bodies
But Devon and Cornwall police today refuted the claims made by Crime Commissioner Alison Hernandez.
Detective Superintendent Jon Bancroft said there are currently “three separate murder investigations being conducted in the Cornwall area”. He insisted he has oversight of “all of these investigations at this time,” adding they are “being carried out independently of each other and are not believed to be linked”.
He said: “I can categorically state that we have recovered remains believed to be those of Daniel Coleman only from an area of woodland in Sticker. No other remains have been located at this scene to date.”
National Crime Agency Involvement
The wooded area is located just off the A390 between St Austell and Truro. The Crime Commissioner said units from the National Crime Agency were also assisting with the search effort.
“The level of expertise, some of the mutual aid we’ve brought in, is expertise in specific types of investigations that we didn’t have,” Ms Hernandez said.
Private security teams have been deployed and the air space has been restricted over the woodland. Police tents have been spotted in the wooded area, alongside forensic teams.
Murder Investigation
The body of 43-year-old Daniel Coleman – who vanished last month from St Austell, in Cornwall – was discovered earlier this month. It is now believed Mr Coleman was killed on a date between June 2 and July 7.
Cops later charged James Desborough, 39, of Old Oak Woods in Lower Sticker, with his murder.
Speaking after Desborough was charged, Detective Superintendent Jon Bancroft confirmed forensic investigations were still ongoing.
DS Bancroft said: “We are continuing with a forensic examination of the scene which is being carried out slowly and methodically. Our teams of officers and staff are being assisted by the National Crime Agency expert group and Home Office-approved scientists.”
“A significant police presence will remain in the Sticker area as we progress our inquiries expeditiously. I continue to ask that people do not speculate on social media about this case.”
Court Appearance
Desborough appeared before Bodmin Magistrates’ Court earlier this month before being remanded in custody. He is due to appear at Truro Crown Court on August 8.
A woman aged in her 30s from Newquay, who was arrested last week on suspicion of murder, remains on police bail while enquiries continue.
Ongoing Investigation
Detective Superintendent Kev Till described the investigation as “extremely complex and unique” with experts working methodically across a large and challenging area of woodland.
“Human remains being carefully recovered at the site are believed to be those of Daniel Coleman from St Austell. Formal identification is yet to take place, and we expect this to take some time,” he said.
“Searches are continuing in order to fully understand what happened to Daniel and for us to be able to provide answers for his family.”
The conflicting statements between the police commissioner and senior investigating officers have raised questions about communication within the force during this major investigation.
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