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| Third body found at arson mansion | Third body found at arson mansion |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| A third body has been found in the remains of a millionaire businessman's mansion destroyed in an arson attack. | A third body has been found in the remains of a millionaire businessman's mansion destroyed in an arson attack. |
| The bodies of Jill Foster, 49, and an unidentified man were found in the ruins of Osbaston House in Maesbrook, Shropshire, days after Tuesday's blaze. | The bodies of Jill Foster, 49, and an unidentified man were found in the ruins of Osbaston House in Maesbrook, Shropshire, days after Tuesday's blaze. |
| Kirstie Foster, 15, and her father Christopher, 50, remain unaccounted for. | Kirstie Foster, 15, and her father Christopher, 50, remain unaccounted for. |
| Police specialist search teams found the remains of a third person on Sunday evening, a spokesperson said. | Police specialist search teams found the remains of a third person on Sunday evening, a spokesperson said. |
| Detectives have said they are treating the case as a murder inquiry. | Detectives have said they are treating the case as a murder inquiry. |
| Post-mortem tests revealed Mrs Foster had been shot in the head prior to the blaze, which police said was started deliberately at about 0500 BST last Tuesday. | Post-mortem tests revealed Mrs Foster had been shot in the head prior to the blaze, which police said was started deliberately at about 0500 BST last Tuesday. |
| Tests were being carried out to establish whether a rifle, which was legitimately owned by Mr Foster, was the murder weapon. | Tests were being carried out to establish whether a rifle, which was legitimately owned by Mr Foster, was the murder weapon. |
| Officers said the cause of death for the second body, believed to be a man, still had to be established, along with the dead person's identity. | Officers said the cause of death for the second body, believed to be a man, still had to be established, along with the dead person's identity. |
| Forensic archaeologist | |
| Three horses and four dogs were also found dead in different parts of the house. All had been shot. | |
| Det Supt Jon Groves, of West Mercia Police, said it would take "some time" to remove the third body from the scene "due to its position". | Det Supt Jon Groves, of West Mercia Police, said it would take "some time" to remove the third body from the scene "due to its position". |
| However, he said police were hoping to remove it from the house by the end of the day, with a post-mortem examination taking place later. | However, he said police were hoping to remove it from the house by the end of the day, with a post-mortem examination taking place later. |
| He said a forensic archaeologist would be visiting the site later in the morning to offer specialist advice on removing the body. | He said a forensic archaeologist would be visiting the site later in the morning to offer specialist advice on removing the body. |
| He thanked the local community for its support over the last week. | He thanked the local community for its support over the last week. |
| The search and examination of the property is continuing and is still expected to take several days, possibly even weeks Det Supt Jon Groves | |
| Mr Groves said: "We have had a lot of support and understanding from members of the community and I would like to thank residents for that. | Mr Groves said: "We have had a lot of support and understanding from members of the community and I would like to thank residents for that. |
| "The search and examination of the property is continuing and is still expected to take several days, possibly even weeks, and I am grateful for the continued support of those living in the area. | "The search and examination of the property is continuing and is still expected to take several days, possibly even weeks, and I am grateful for the continued support of those living in the area. |
| "Our thoughts remain with the families of Chris, Jill and Kirstie Foster and we will follow up every possible line of enquiry to establish what happened at Osbaston House in the early hours of Tuesday." | "Our thoughts remain with the families of Chris, Jill and Kirstie Foster and we will follow up every possible line of enquiry to establish what happened at Osbaston House in the early hours of Tuesday." |
| The Fosters were last seen the night before the blaze at a friend's barbecue and Kirstie had been online until about 0100 BST on the morning of the fire. | The Fosters were last seen the night before the blaze at a friend's barbecue and Kirstie had been online until about 0100 BST on the morning of the fire. |
| Mr Foster made his fortune developing insulation technology for oil rigs. | Mr Foster made his fortune developing insulation technology for oil rigs. |
| Court documents show that his company, Ulva Ltd, which had gone into liquidation, faced legal action from one of its suppliers for thousands of pounds and also owed about £800,000 in tax. | Court documents show that his company, Ulva Ltd, which had gone into liquidation, faced legal action from one of its suppliers for thousands of pounds and also owed about £800,000 in tax. |
| Special prayers for the family were held on Sunday at Maesbrook Parish Church. | Special prayers for the family were held on Sunday at Maesbrook Parish Church. |
| The Reverend Prebendary David Austerberry said the local community had been "bewildered and stunned" by what had happened. | The Reverend Prebendary David Austerberry said the local community had been "bewildered and stunned" by what had happened. |