Greater Manchester Police have confirmed that there was no third-party involvement in the death of a 38-year-old woman whose body was discovered following a fire at Higher Tunshill Farm in Milnrow, Rochdale. The man initially arrested on suspicion of murder has been released with no further action.
Discovery and Initial Investigation
Emergency services were called to reports of a fire at Higher Tunshill Farm at approximately 12:30 pm on Friday, 3 July 2026. Upon arrival, fire crews extinguished the blaze and discovered the body of a woman inside a stables on the property. Police immediately launched a murder investigation and arrested a man in his 40s on suspicion of murder.
A Greater Manchester Police spokesperson said at the time: "At around 12.30pm on Friday 3 July, emergency services were called to reports of a fire at Higher Tunshill Farm, Milnrow. Sadly, emergency services discovered the body of a woman inside stables at the property. A male in his 40s was arrested on suspicion of murder and has since been bailed pending further investigation. A scene remains in place and enquiries are ongoing."
Police Update: No Third-Party Involvement
However, following further enquiries, police issued a new statement confirming that detectives now believe there was no third-party involvement in the woman's death. The man arrested has been released with no further action taken against him.
In the update, a police spokesperson said: "Through enquiries conducted by officers following the death of a 38-year-old woman who was found after a fire at Higher Tunshill Farm, Milnrow, at around 12.30pm on Friday 3 July, detectives believe there was no third-party involvement in her death. A man in his 40s, who was arrested on suspicion of murder on the same day, has been released with no further action being taken against him at this time."
Next Steps: Coroner and Inquest
The circumstances surrounding the death will now be referred to the coroner, and an inquest will take place in due course. Police have not released further details about the cause of the fire or the woman's identity, pending the inquest.
