Human remains have been found in a churchyard during the search for Norma Girolami who vanished without warning 15 months ago.
The 70-year-old went missing from her flat in Highgate, London, in mid-August last year, with a murder probe launched two months later.
But on Tuesday, police found her remains during the search of a churchyard in north London.
It had previously been reported that Norma, who lived alone and had no children, had taken out a £35,000 loan after going missing.
Norma had left food in her fridge when she vanished, and regularly traveled to Brent Cross to do her shopping using public transport to make her way there.
On Thursday, August 19 last year she made a trip to Leigh-on-Sea in Essex, a place that she liked to visit.
She took the train from Barking and returned to London later that day, but all communication with her stopped that evening.
A murder investigation was then launched by police in October last year, and her remains were found earlier this week after a churchyard was searched at Friern Barnet Lane, North London.
Her family, who were said to be "distraught" over her disappearance, have been made aware of the latest discovery.
The Met Police's Detective Chief Inspector Kate Blackburn said: "Despite accepting that Norma was no longer alive, I know that her family are deeply affected by the news that her remains have been found. Our thoughts are very much with them.
“My team has spent more than a year searching for Norma and there is a sense of relief that we have found her remains which will undergo forensic examination in due course.
“Despite this discovery, I would still be very keen to hear from anyone who knew Norma, either in London or at Leigh on Sea who can provide information on anything that was happening in her life in August last year.
"I am also appealing for anyone who saw any activity around the Churchyard in Firern Barnet Lane, N20 between August and October last year.
“Norma’s family and friends have endured a year of not knowing what had happened to her and our investigation remains ongoing. If you have any information, no matter how small a detail it may seem, please do get in touch.”
Anyone with information should call police on 101 or Tweet @MetCC.
If you prefer not to speak with police, you can call the independent charity Crimestoppers anomyously on 0800 555 111 or visit Crimestoppers-uk.org.
