Remains identified as missing murdered woman

The remains of a missing murdered woman have been found in a field.

Julie Buckley was 54 when she disappeared and was last seen shopping in the town of March in Cambridgeshire on 28 January.

Concerns for her welfare were raised in early February and police found bloodstains at her home in Christchurch.

Karl Hutchings, 48, of The Hill in the nearby village of Christchurch, initially denied her murder but changed his plea to guilty at Cambridge Crown Court last week.

Detectives investigating the murder received information from Hutchings' defence team about a potential burial site.

Remains were found off Blue Lane in Wimblington, which a post-mortem examination has confirmed to be Ms Buckley.

Cambridgeshire Police believe he killed Ms Buckley on 30 January, then used her bank cards and sold her possessions.

He is due to be sentenced on 24 October.

Det Ch Insp Richard Stott said: "Julie's family have been made aware of the post-mortem results, which were inconclusive on the cause of death, and are being supported by specially trained officers.

"Our thoughts are with them at this very difficult time."

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