Search for third body in mansion

8:32am Monday 1st September 2008

Police are continuing the search for missing teenager Kirstie Foster after the body of her mother and a man - believed to be her father - were found in their fire ravaged mansion.

Detectives launched a murder investigation on Sunday after a body was identified as Kirstie's mother Jill. She had been shot in the head.

Further tests are being carried out to confirm the identity of the man and to establish a cause of death.

Kirstie, 15, has not been seen since the family attended a barbecue at a friend's house nearby on Monday and returned home to Osbaston House in Shropshire that evening.

It is thought Kirstie was at home, chatting online to friends, until around 1am on Tuesday.

The fire - which was started deliberately according to police - broke out three hours later.

When emergency services went to the secluded mansion, they found three horses and three dogs had been killed in outbuildings in the mansion's grounds. All had been shot. A fourth dog, which had also been shot dead, was found near Mrs Foster's body.

Supt Gary Higgins, of West Mercia Constabulary, said Mrs Foster's body was identified through dental records.

He said further tests will be carried out on the second body but it may be "some time" before formal identification is possible.

Mr Higgins said a rifle was found near the two bodies which has been identified as a .22 rimfire rifle which was legitimately owned by Mr Foster.

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