Police have identified a suspect after the remains of a mother who vanished nearly two decades ago were discovered in a shallow grave in Leicester woodland.
Discovery After a Near 20-Year Search
Human remains found in October 2025 have been formally identified as those of Malgorzata Wnuczek, a 27-year-old Polish national who was reported missing in 2006. The discovery was made in woodland near the Freeman's Meadows area of Leicester following a tip-off from Polish authorities.
An inquest opening at Leicester Town Hall on Wednesday, 17 December 2025, heard that items including bones, women's clothing, and a watch were recovered from the grave. Senior coroner Professor Catherine Mason confirmed that DNA from a femur bone matched a national database, providing conclusive identification.
International Investigation and a Crucial Clue
The court heard that the investigation into Ms Wnuczek's disappearance had a complex international history. Her family in Poland reported her missing in May 2006 after losing contact. The case became a 'no body murder inquiry' in 2009 before being closed by Leicestershire Police in 2013.
New information from Polish police in 2021 reignited the investigation, leading to a joint operation. A specific location was provided in 2024, culminating in the discovery on Tuesday, 7 October 2025. A key piece of evidence was a watch found with the remains, which matched one Ms Wnuczek was seen wearing in an online photograph.
Suspect Named and Prosecution Decision Pending
Professor Mason revealed that the police investigation has now identified a suspect who resides in Poland. A meeting will be held between the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and Polish prosecutors to review evidence and decide on two critical matters:
- Whether to charge the suspect.
- Whether any potential prosecution should take place in Poland or England.
As a result of the potential criminal proceedings, the inquest has been formally suspended. A post-mortem examination could not establish a cause of death, but further analysis on the bones is ongoing.
Ms Wnuczek was last seen on 31 May 2006, leaving her workplace at a warehouse in Braunstone Frith, Leicester, to catch a bus home. She had been living in a shared house in Mill Hill Lane, Highfields, working long shifts and saving money to visit her young daughter, Ola, in Poland.
