Floral tributes left at scene where human remains were found after Sunderland garage fire

An investigation continues to identify the human remains found following the fire in Tunstall Village Green, Silksworth, but officers are supporting the family of the suspected victim.

A murder inquiry was launched after the human remains were discovered under substantial and dense rubble following the blaze, which took place inside the garage of a property, on Tuesday, February 18.

Now flowers have been tied to the fence outside the property with touching messages attached paying tribute to the suspect victim.

One message reads: “What a total shock. What a funny man you were. Thinking of all your family.”

Another says: “Fly high. Our loss is heaven’s gain. Our thoughts are with your family.”

The message on the third bouquet reads: “You will be a big miss.”

Northumbria Police are treating the death as suspicious and a 38-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of murder but has since been released under investigation.

The remains have not been formally identified and police have warned it could take some time for the identification process to take place.

Police do believe they know who the victim is and have said that specialist family liaison officers are supporting their family.

A police cordon has been put in place around the property as inquiries continue at the scene on Tuesday, February 25.

Officers, with support from specialist fire crews, will remain in the area and are working to map out a timeline of what happened before the fire.

Detectives say the Sunderland community could hold the key to the mystery of human remains found at a home in the city.

Detective Inspector Graeme Dodds, the senior investigating officer, said: “First and foremost, this is an absolutely tragic incident and specialist family liaison officers continue to offer the suspected victim’s family support at this devastating time.”

He added: “I’m now asking anybody in the community who saw anything suspicious on the day of the fire, or who has received any information whatsoever regarding the incident, to come forward.”