Detectives have launched a renewed appeal to find the body of Susan Waring who was murdered after she fled Scotland following a fire attack at her Bonhill home.
It’s been three years since the last sighting of Susan Waring, 45, whose body has never been found.
The tragic mum-of-five Susan Waring was left in a coma after her Redburn home was set on fire with her trapped inside in July 2017.
Soon after she recovered she moved to Lancashire but 18 months later she was reported missing.
She was last seen on January 29, 2019, with Alan Edwards, who was later convicted of her murder and sentenced to a minimum of 27 years in jail.
Tomorrow (Saturday) will be the third anniversary of her disappearance and police are issuing a renewed call to help find her.
Detective Chief Inspector Lukmaan Mulla, of Lancashire Police, said: “Her murder remains one of the most difficult and heart-breaking investigations I have dealt with.
“Susan, so vulnerable, was subjected to horrific abuse by Alan Edwards, tragically ending in her murder.
“While her family has received justice with Edwards now serving a life term in prison, their suffering continues while her body remains missing.
“Edwards continues to deny Susan’s murder and as such, is not revealing where he disposed of her body.
“I want to make a direct plea today to anyone with information about her disappearance to come forward.”
Susan started a relationship with Edwards after moving back to Lancashire following a fire attack on her West Dunbartonshire flat which nearly killed her.
We reported at the time how her neighbours in Redburn, Bonhill, were woken by her screaming for help in the early hours of July 25, 2017.
They tried to get to the her but were overwhelmed by smoke.
Firefighters rescued her from the flat and she was left fighting for her life after being placed in a coma.
Susan had been living in Bonhill for around eight years at the time of the fire but she was originally from England. She was in a coma for nine days and moved south again soon after she recovered.
Her best friend Fran Paton, also from Redburn, said at the time: “She’s got a heart of gold and wouldn’t hurt a fly.
“We just can’t believe this has happened to her.”
After moving back to England, Susan was subjected to extreme violence by Edwards, who disposed of her body and then attempted to cover his tracks.
A forensic examination of his flat found more than 100 blood spots and traces of Ms Waring’s DNA on a rubber Halloween skull mask worn by Edwards while he was said to have struck her at close proximity.
She was the victim of several assaults by Edwards during their two-month relationship and was seen being punched to the face by him on January 15, 2019, around two weeks before her family last heard from her.
The following day, she attended a doctor’s appointment with multiple injuries, including bruising and severe swelling to the face.
Accompanied by Edwards, she was advised to seek medical attention at a hospital but sadly, she never did.
Susan was last seen on Tuesday, January 29, 2019, in company with Edwards at Asda in Darwen.
Susan’s family later reported her missing to the police, with police later launching a murder investigation.
Det Ch Insp Mulla added: “I believe someone out there knows where Susan’s body is and can help police. I must stress, any information, no matter how seemingly small, could help our team to find her.
“Any calls to police will be treated in the strictest confidence.
“We want to find Susan and give her family some closure. Susan’s death, the subsequent investigation and trial has left them devastated.”
Anyone with information is asked to call 101 quoting incident reference 0496 of January 27.
Alternatively, independent charity Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at crimestoppers-uk.org.
