Police investigating the disappearance of a Polish mother 19 years ago have discovered human remains in an area of scrubland.
Malgorzata Wnuczek vanished on her way home from her job at a logistics company in Leicester in May 2006.
The 27-year-old was last seen catching a bus from her workplace on Sunningdale Road to the city centre, only to seemingly disappear without a trace.
The last contact she had with her family, who affectionally referred to her as Gosia, was via text message on 29 May 2006, police have said.
She left behind a daughter, Ola, who was three at the time of her disappearance.
Today, Leicestershire Police announced that officers had discovered human remains in an area of scrubland off Great Central Way – close to Leicester City’s stadium.
Officers had begun a renewed search for Ms Wnuczek on September 30 following a tip off ‘from colleagues in Poland’, with their efforts focused on digging up the scrubland.
In a statement released following the grim find, the force said: ‘It is unknown at this time whether the remains are that of Ms Wnuczek and further forensic tests will be undertaken to establish the identity of the person in question.
‘Though remains have been found, a search of the area is continuing.’
Her family are said to be in contact with officers who are providing them with support.
It is understood police are yet to have make any arrests over the discovery of the remains.
In June 2023, a 39-year-old man was arrested in the Greater Manchester area on suspicion of assisting an offender and perverting the course of justice and later released with no further action.
The 2023 arrest came as specialist search teams combed the River Soar over several days following another tip-off from Polish police, but nothing was found.
Ms Wnuczek’s family previously made a public appeal for information on the 10-year anniversary of her disapperance in 2016, including a £10,000 reward, but only seven people were said to have got in touch and no new lines of inquiry were established.
Ola learned to understand what had happened to her mother as she got older, sharing a number of appeals, including an emotional video appeal when she was just six and another on her 13th birthday in May 2016, according to Leicestershire Live.
She had been living in Poland with her grandparents since before her mother’s disappearance.
Following the discovery of the human remains, Det Supt Jenni Greenway, the senior investigating officer, said: ‘While I appreciate this news may come as a shock to the community, I hope this discovery will provide us with information that helps us understand what may or may not have happened to Malgorzata.
‘Officers are in contact with her family and are providing support to them at what is undoubtedly a difficult time.
‘Officers will remain in the Watkin Road area to carry out further work and also provide reassurance to those living nearby.’
The officer said in an earlier statement: ‘For nearly 20 years now, Malgorzata’s family have lived their lives not knowing what happened to her and we owe it to them to answer the questions they have.’
