Police investigating the discovery of a headless torso in Salford say they believe the victim was a man in his 60s who lived with the two arrested suspects.
Officers from Greater Manchester Police (GMP) have spoken to the man’s family but said formal identification of the victim would not take place until next week.
Detectives attempted to discover who the victim was after parts of her body were found wrapped in plastic at Kersal Dale wetlands in Salford on April 4.
Police have now revealed human remains have been found in two other locations across Greater Manchester.
Police believe the two men they arrested on suspicion of the murder earlier this week, aged 42 and 68, were roommates of the victim.
The men remain in custody for questioning as police said they were “confident” they had the right suspects.
The officer in charge of the case, Supt Lewis Hughes, said police believed the victim was a man in his 60s who lived with the two arrested suspects.
Officers pictured searching the address on Worsley Road where they believe the victim and two suspects lived today
At a press conference at 6pm on Sunday, the officer in charge of the case, Superintendent Lewis Hughes, revealed that officers had searched a house in Wintham where they believed the victim and one of the suspects.
He said they found evidence of his murder and believed he may have died in late March.
But the senior officer said there was no evidence of gang activity and ruled out a domestic incident, saying they were not linked.
It comes as the police investigation has widened in recent days with officers spotted at scenes in Worsley Road in Winton, Blackleach Reservoir and Linneyshaw Colliery Wood in Salford and Mitchell Street in Bury.
Supt Huges has now confirmed that a dog walker discovered human remains in a parcel in Linneyshaw Colliery Wood last night and said he was convinced they were the same victim.
It comes as the police investigation has widened in recent days with officers spotted at four locations across the Greater Manchester area. Pictured: A police dog pictured today at Blackleach Country Park
Forensic officers were seen working at an industrial unit near Mitchell Street in Bury.
A heavy police presence was pictured at Blackleach Country Park throughout the day.
Forensic examinations will be carried out to confirm if it is indeed the same man.
He also said more human remains were discovered at Blackleach Reservoir today by police divers.
The formal identification of the victim should be made next week.
The senior officer at Greater Manchester Police’s serious crime unit said he did not wish to specify what remains were found today thanks to the victim’s family.
He said specially trained officers had informed his family and would support them through this difficult time.
He also said that in relation to the Mitchell Street warehouse in Bury, there was no indication that anyone working there was involved in any criminal offences. He said it appeared items were stored there.
Superintendent Hughes said: “While this is significant progress, we know there is still some way to go to complete this investigation.
“I also recognize that the details of this case will have been particularly distressing for the people of Salford and beyond, including our officers who have worked diligently to progress this investigation, and above all, for the heartbroken family of this man.”
“Local officers will continue to patrol the affected areas and we will provide updates when we have information.”
Police officers searching woods in Kersal Dale, near Salford, Greater Manchester, the day after the remains were discovered on April 4.
Police searched the area where the dismembered male torso was found earlier this month.
A forensic pathologist walks around with a plastic bag filled with various objects, Friday April 5.
Police and forensic officers at Kersal Dale, near Salford, Greater Manchester, on April 5.
Officers search for other body parts at Kersal Dale nature reserve
The revelation of the man’s identity comes after more than 100 police officers accompanied by search dogs, crime scene investigators and scientists descended on the scene and launched a search of wetlands and surrounding areas.
A 20-year-old man was arrested on April 6 on suspicion of murder in connection with the case. He has since been released on bail.
Police temporarily suspended bin collections while they search for other body parts, fearing the killer may have used one to hide the remains.
Officers have even asked to speak with children who were spotted at Kersal Dale nature reserve after claiming they could have “crucial information”.
They said on April 17 that after an extensive CCTV investigation they had discovered images of children playing in the area in previous days and that they may have held the information “without realizing it”.
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