UK: Murder Probe Underway In Salford After 'Headless Torso' Found In Nature Reserve Wrapped In Plastic

A murder investigation is underway in the UK after a human torso was found in the Salford nature reserve in the Greater Manchester area. Police responded to a wooded area in Kersal Wetlands after a passerby found the remains wrapped in plastic around 5:50 pm on Thursday.

British authorities are now searching the area for additional body parts while awaiting results from a postmortem examination to identify the victim, the Daily Mail reported. However, due to the absence of the full body, determining the cause of death remains uncertain.

‘Tragic case’

“Forensic examinations on Friday determined that the victim is a man – likely to be aged older than 40 and who has only been deceased for a matter of days. Further enquiries – including DNA tests – are ongoing to help try to identify him,” the Greater Manchester Police said in a statement, as reports revealed that no identifying marks were found on the remains.

Police estimate the body had been in the reserve for 24 to 36 hours before its discovery. UK media reports said that the Woodland area remains cordoned off as forensic officers conduct their investigation. Chief Superintendent Tony Creely, district commander for Salford, said: “This is a tragic case which is moving at pace and, thanks to forensic tests, we are able to confirm that the victim is a man who could not have survived.

“At the heart of our investigation is this man and his family. We are using all forensic techniques available to identify him as soon as we can so we are able to support his loved ones during this devastating time. “I would like to thank the public for their cooperation in the last few days. The presence of our officers and specialist teams will have caused disruption in the local area – and may continue to for some time yet – but we value any information they have been able to pass to us,” he added.

The police’s forensic teams and detectives are expected to remain on-site for an extended period. UK authorities are appealing to locals, dog walkers, and passersby for any information that could aid in the investigation. Chief Superintendent Creely stressed the need for a breakthrough and urged individuals with even the smallest piece of information to contact the police promptly.