A man arrested on suspicion of murder after a badly mutilated body was found on a motorway has been released him on bail.
The body of a mother-of-two, 32, was found by horrified drivers on the London-bound carriageway of the M20 near Ashford, Kent around 6pm on Tuesday evening.
Detectives arrested a man, reported to be the unnamed woman’s partner, on suspicion of murder when he came forward following a police appeal. He has since been released on bail.
Grim discovery: Police closed the M20 motorway in Kent after the body of a 32-year-old, mother of two was found on Tuesday evening
According to reports, police were scouring a holiday park in Kent for evidence on Tuesday night.
It is thought that the woman had moved there from Ashford with her two children and new partner in November.
Officers were also said to be investigating whether she was killed at the holiday camp on the Kent coast before her body was driven to the M20 and dumped.
It is understood the woman’s remains had been struck several times by passing cars and lorries, whose drivers were unaware of what was in the busy road.
It is unclear whether she was killed on the motorway or was already dead when the cars ran over her body.
The usually-busy motorway between London and the Channel Tunnel was closed yesterday and police confirmed that her partner was being quizzed
Officers appealed for the driver of a silver Nissan Qashqai to come forward and a man handed himself in at a police station on Wednesday evening, Kent police said.
He was released on bail on Friday morning until March 15.
Police confirmed the victim was a 32-year-old woman from Kent and a post mortem is expected to take place at midday.
Detective Chief Inspector Richard Vickery said: ‘I would still like to hear from anyone who may have seen a silver Nissan Qashqai with registration number KY15 WWX on the M20 between 5.30pm and 6.30pm on Tuesday 20 February 2018.
‘In addition, I would also like to hear from any motorists who have dashcam footage taken between 5.30pm and 6.30pm on Tuesday 20 February of the M20 London-bound carriageway between junctions 10 and 9.
‘Any motorists who used the M20 after 6pm on Tuesday is asked to contact us if they believe they experienced anything unusual whilst driving and check their cars for signs of involvement in this incident.’
One motorist said he was driving onto the coastbound stretch of motorway at about 6.20pm when he saw emergency services on the opposite side of the road.
Police were seen combing the three-lane motorway for clues in the murder investigation
The 21-year-old man, who asked not to be named, said: ‘As I entered the motorway I expected to see a crash when I suddenly realised that it wasn’t and unfortunately it appeared to be a body lying in the central lane with police and ambulance staff around it.
‘Because of the torches being shone by police, [I could see] it appeared that the body had been struck by vehicles.
‘It was very shocking. It is not a sight I would want anyone to witness. My condolences are with the family of the deceased.’
The woman’s remains were reportedly in such a bad condition that officers were initially unable to determine whether a man or woman was dead.
The scene where the body was found. A man has been arrested on suspicion of murder and it is unclear if the woman died on the motorway or was dumped there
Police closed off the motorway at Ashford, Kent and detectives from the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate joined forces with the Kent Police Serious Collision Investigation Unit to investigate the incident.
The M20 is a busy road artery linking the Channel Tunnel and Port of Dover to the M25 and London.
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