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ITN
Search for 'third body' continues
Search for 'third body' continues
Police are continuing to search the burnt-out home of millionaire businessman Christopher Foster following the discovery of two charred bodies. Officers recovered the remains inside Osbaston House in Maesbrook, Shropshire, on Friday night, almost four days after a blaze destroyed the property. Mr Foster, his wife Jill and their 15-year-old daughter Kirstie have not been seen since the suspected arson attack. A search for a possible third body at the home is ongoing. The family were last seen at a friend's barbecue on Monday evening, they then returned to the sprawling country estate. It has been reported that Kirstie may have been talking online to friends in the hours before the fire, which took hold at around 4am. Flames destroyed a stable block and a garage as well as part of the main residence. Three horses and three dogs were killed in the fire. Supt Gary Higgins of West Mercia Police said: "We can confirm that two bodies were recovered from the main part of Osbaston House, Maesbrook." He said the remains would be examined by a Home Office pathologist and post-mortem examinations were due to be carried out on Saturday to establish the cause of death. Supt Higgins said DNA may be needed in order to formally identify the bodies: "There are a range of techniques that will help us." He could not say if the two people found dead were male or female or give any indication of their ages. He added: "We must stress that the Foster family still remain unaccounted for." A man who knew Mr Foster said he feared his former business associate may have "just flipped". Terence Baines, a former director of Mr Foster's company Ulva Ltd, said: "It's anyone's guess, but it seems that the people he owed money to are big companies and I can't see them behind something like this." A special church service is expected to take place in Maesbrook Church during which prayers will be said for the Fosters, their family and friends.
ITN | August 31, 2008
