Police are treating the discovery of the remains of a woman, missing since November last year, as murder.
Angela Millington's bones were found washed up in a salt marsh area on Foulness Island on June 21 by a group of ramblers as they walked on the island. The alarm was raised and a full search of the island also took place and further skeletal bones were located.
It is not known when the 33-year-old died, or how she ended up there, but experts believe she was either taken there or washed up by the tide.
Angela lived in the Southend area. She was last seen when she visited a housing officer in Westcliff on November 21
Detectives have since been supporting her family and speaking to people who knew her to try and find out how and when she died.
DCI Simon Werrett, of the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate, is leading the investigation.
He said: "Money was also drawn out of her bank account on November 21.
"Her mobile phone has not been used since the end of November and we have not found any of her clothing or belongings. Angela was known to associate with street drinkers and local homeless people.
"There was a sighting of her by a police officer in the Porters Grange area of Southend on January 6 but we have no definite details of her movements since November 21.
"The expert reports indicate that she did not die on Foulness but was either taken there or the body was carried there in the tide."
He added: "We have launched a murder investigation as we don't know what happened to Angela. We are keeping all lines of enquiry open.
Anybody with any information is asked to contact the dedicated incident room on 01702 470173 during office hours or 101 outside of those times.
