Everything we know about the Tunstall Village Green investigation as body found named as Sunderland man Mark Herron

Detectives launched a murder inquiry in Sunderland this week after human remains were found at a property in the city.
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Northumbria Police officers were called to the scene following the fire, which took place on Tuesday, February 18 and on Monday, February 24, the force announced that the death was being treated as suspicious.

When were the emergency services called?

Mark Herron has been named by Northumbria Police.Mark Herron has been named by Northumbria Police.
Mark Herron has been named by Northumbria Police.
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Firefighters were called to the property at 8.30pm on Tuesday, February 18 to reports of a fire at a garage.

All crews were reported to have left the scene around 12 hours after the initial call came in – by 9am on Wednesday, February 19.

An investigation is underway at a property in Tunstall Village Green, Sunderland.An investigation is underway at a property in Tunstall Village Green, Sunderland.
An investigation is underway at a property in Tunstall Village Green, Sunderland.
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Detectives are now working to establish a timeline of what happened before the fire.

Who is the victim?

On Wednesday, February 26 Northumbria Police named 53-year-old Mark Herron, of New Silksworth, as the person whose remains were found in the aftermath of the fire.

A post-mortem exam, held on Tuesday, found that Mark died as a result of the fire.

Human remains were discovered under rubble following the fire, which took place on Tuesday, February 18.Human remains were discovered under rubble following the fire, which took place on Tuesday, February 18.
Human remains were discovered under rubble following the fire, which took place on Tuesday, February 18.

Specialist officers continue to support his family, who paid tribute to him in a statement.

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They said: “We are absolutely devastated by Mark’s death. Words can’t describe the pain we are feeling as we try to come to terms with our loss.

“He was a much-loved member of our family, and whilst he would have been the first to acknowledge he had his problems in recent years, he was a kind man at heart.

“We would like to thank the community for the messages we have received since this tragic news, and would ask that our privacy is respected at this time.”

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Neighbours shock as human remains found after Tunstall Village Green garage fire...

Has anyone been arrested?

Northumbria Police confirmed to the Echo on Monday that a 38-year-old man had been arrested on suspicion of murder in the days following the blaze on Sunday, February 23.

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A police presence remains at Tunstall Village Green, with a cordon in place, while officers continue inquiries in the area.

Forensic teams also attended the scene on Wednesday.

What happens next?

Detective Inspector Graeme Dodds, the senior investigating officer on the case, urged the public to come forward with any information that could be relevant.

He told residents that specialist forensic and fire investigatory work at the scene will take "considerable amount of time to complete” before the remains can be formally identified.

In calling for the public’s help, the officer added: “That could prove the key to ensuring swift and robust action is taken against anybody found to be responsible.”