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Police search gutted mansion
Police searching for a family of three missing since a suspicious fire destroyed their Shropshire mansion gained access to the site of the gutted house for the first time on Friday.
- Reuters
- Published: 23:53 August 29, 2008
London: Police searching for a family of three missing since a suspicious fire destroyed their Shropshire mansion gained access to the site of the gutted house for the first time on Friday.
West Mercia Constabulary said extensive debris in the main building in Maesbrook, near Oswestry, meant the search could take several days and possibly weeks.
A suspected arson attack ripped through Osbaston House, its stable block and a garage area early on Tuesday.
Millionaire businessman Christopher Foster, 50, his wife Jill, 49 and their 15-year-old daughter Kirstie have not been seen since.
"Officers have completed a search of the outbuildings and are now in the process of removing vehicles from the site," said Superintendent Gary Higgins.
"We have completed a cursory search of the annexe part of the main building which is relatively intact following the fire," he said.
"We will enter the main part of the house today and forensic specialists will begin the lengthy, painstaking process of sifting and examining all the contents."
Dead horses
Officers are waiting for the results of post mortems conducted on an unspecified number of horses found at the scene. The corpses of three dogs were also found close by. Newspaper reports said the horses had been shot. A large horse box which had been left by the gates of the property has also been removed by police for forensic tests.
Police said they are pursuing "every possible line of inquiry" to find out what happened to the family.
Newspapers said Foster's main company Ulva Ltd, which supplied insulation for oil rigs, went into liquidation last year with debts of nearly £1 million (Dh6.7 million).
Police say speculation about the family is "unhelpful" and has upset their friends and relatives.
Nearly 100 officers and support staff are working on the incident.
Officers are developing profiles on each family member and detectives have spoken to friends and relatives and alerted ports and airports.
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