Murder inquiry begins after body found in woods

Jack Silver
BBC News, South West
BBC A Devon and Cornwall Police Car.BBC
A 39-year-old man and a woman in her 30s have been arrested separately, both on suspicion of murder

A murder investigation has begun in Cornwall following the discovery of a man's body in a "wooded area" near St Austell.

The body was found by police at the site between Truro and St Austell at about 18:00 BST on Tuesday. Formal identification of the body has yet to take place but the family of a man has been informed.

A woman in her 30s from the Newquay area was arrested on suspicion of murder.

It follows the arrest on Monday of a 39-year-old man from nearby Sticker, on suspicion of murder. Police had gone to a property in Sticker as part of a inquiries into a missing man. The 39-year-old was originally arrested on suspicion of fraud but, following a search, he was rearrested.

Police said they were "keeping an open mind", but believed the two incidents were linked.

However they said there was "nothing to indicate a wider threat to the public".

Det Insp Neil Blanchard, of the major crime investigation team, said: "We appreciate that these events may appear concerning to the public, but we would like to ask people not to speculate while we work to ascertain exactly what has happened."

Officers remain at the scene and inquiries are ongoing.

Police asked anyone with information or footage that could help with inquiries to contact them quoting reference number 50250167097.

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