22/08/2011

Body Found In Search For Missing Polish Farmhand

Police investigating the disappearance of Polish farmhand Danuta Domagalska have found the body of a woman.

The body was found by specialist police search teams concealed in a shallow grave close to the farm.

The body was recovered by police and forensic specialists and taken to Darlington Memorial Hospital. A post-mortem was conducted, which revealed that the victim had been strangled.

It is understood that the woman's fully clothed body was found by specialist sniffer dogs and search teams under soil and rubble on a raised grass area at the rear of one of the farm buildings.

It is believed that the body has been there since August 6, the day when Danuta was last seen at work.

The body has not yet been formally identified, but Durham Police have confirmed that they are no longer searching for Danuta.

Danuta, 27, who worked at New Moor Farm, Walmorth Gate, near Darlington, had not been seen since August 6.

Her brother, Piotr Lawniczak, 31, disappeared shortly afterwards and his body was found hanged in a wooded area close to the farm on August 27.

Police have now revealed that they believe Danuta may have been killed in a row over money.

Det Supt Adrian Green said: "We expect to be at the farm for perhaps another three days before our work is finished and we can return the site completely to the owners.

"Both Danuta's husband, Marcin and her family back in Poland have been kept up to date with what has happened. Understandably, they have been left devastated and we will give them every practical support we can."

Danuta had a five-year-old son, Kuba, who lives with relatives in Poland. Her brother also had a two-year-old son, Wiktor, who lives with his mother near Kalisz.

The investigation is continuing.

(KMcA/BMcC)

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