Police investigating the scene of an alleged murder have uncovered multiple bodies hidden in woodland.
Devon and Cornwall Police have been searching a small wooded area after the body of missing man Daniel Coleman, 43, was found there earlier this month.
James Desborough, 39, was charged with Daniel’s murder after his remains were found in Paramoor Woods, located just off the A390 between St Austell and Truro.
But three weeks on, the local police and crime commissioner (PCC) has now confirmed the force has found multiple other bodies there.
Devon and Cornwall Police are joined by special units from the National Crime Agency, as well as officers from other police forces and even private security guards brought in to protect the site.
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Today, PCC Alison Hernandez told a police and crime panel that the force is in fact searching for the remains of multiple people.
Explaining why Devon and Cornwall Police sought mutual aid from other police forces, she said: ‘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.
‘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. The National Crime Agency is supporting the organisation at the moment.
‘I want to thank all the other forces that are coming in at a very busy time for themselves to offer mutual aid. It’s largely investigative mutual aid that we’ve brought in.
‘Until some of those elements have been established of exactly what we’re dealing with there, it will be made public at that time.
‘I know there’s been some information in the media. We’ve got a huge forensic tent down there. Lots of forensics officers, obviously we’ve found dead bodies in that wood.
‘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.’
Desborough appeared before Bodmin magistrates court earlier this month and was returned to custody until August 8, when he is due to appear at Truro crown court.
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