Inquest opens into Blackpool murder victim Eddie Forrester as parts of his remains still missing

Edward Forrester, 55, was last seen in Seafield Road, North Shore on September 1 and was reported missing the following day.

His neighbour William Wilkinson, also of Seafield Road, was later arrested on suspicion of murder on September 5 as the search for Mr Forrester continued.

Last Friday (November 17), he appeared in the dock at Preston Crown Court where he admitted to murdering Mr Forrester.

Partial human remains were found in the Lake District near Windermere on September 13, on land off Ashes Lane, Staveley, while other parts were discovered in Blackpool.

Lancashire Police were alerted to the potential foul play when visiting Mr Forrester's flat and smelling ammonia in another flat close by - a giveaway a clean up operation had taken place.

On investigating the smell, officers discovered blood evidence and started to investigate the owner William Wilkinson. During the investigation, detectives were able to recover “a significant number of body parts” from both Blackpool and the Lake District by tracing Wilkinson’s movements based on his mobile phone data.

He used his white Peugeot Boxer van to scatter his victim’s dismembered body around Blackpool the day after Mr Forrester was last seen alive, and again in Blackpool and then Cumbria over the days that followed.

Sadly, some of Mr Forrester’s remains have yet to be found despite further searches. It is understood that his killer, 65-year-old Wilkinson, has not told detectives where the last remains are to be found. He has since pleaded guilty to murder and perverting the course of justice.

A police spokesman said: “During the significant search efforts involving officers from both Lancashire and Cumbria we have found a significant number of body parts.

"Sadly, there are still parts that have not been recovered.

“The man responsible for Eddie’s death - William Wilkinson – has pleaded guilty to murder and will be sentenced on January 19”.

Inquest

Today (Friday, November 24), an inquest into Mr Forrester’s death opened in Cumbria where coroner Dr Nicholas Shaw revealed police, on entering his flat, suspected Mr Forrester might have been murdered

Inside, they noted a strong smell of ammonia which they suspected was evidence of a ‘murder clean-up’, said the coroner.

Dr Shaw said Mr Forrester was identified using DNA profiling based on a sample of his bodily tissue, with forensic experts confirming remains found in Blackpool and Cumbria were a match.

Forensic analysis concluded that the likelihood that the scattered remains were not Mr Forrester’s were one in a billion, added the coroner.

Shortly after opening the case, Dr Shaw confirmed he was suspending the inquest pending further police reports.

A provisional date for the resumption of the inquest has been set for March 28, 2024.