Man charged with murder five months after 74-year-old retiree disappeared when human remains were found in storage unit – The US Sun

A MAN has been charged with murder five months after a pensioner disappeared – with human remains found in a storage unit.

Annette Smith, 74, from Stotfold in Bedfordshire, went missing around November last year.

Police said human remains were found in a storage unit in the Hertfordshire town of Letchworth.

Scott Paterson, 44, of no fixed address, was arrested on Tuesday in connection with Annette’s disappearance.

Yesterday Paterson was charged with Annette’s murder and was remanded in custody.

He will appear at Luton Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, Bedfordshire Police said.

Formal identification did not occur, but Annette’s family members were informed by the police.

DI Katie Dounias said: “This is clearly a distressing time for Annette’s friends, family and all those in the close-knit community where she belonged.

“Our thoughts are with them at this time and we have specialist officers supporting their loved ones.

“We continue to conduct extensive investigations in relation to this complex investigation.”

DI Dounias added: “We would urge anyone with information to come forward.”

Police first appealed for information about Annette’s whereabouts on April 15.

Five days later, detectives turned their missing person investigation into a murder investigation.