Detectives are investigating the death of a 60-year-old woman as a homicide.
She was found with serious injuries at her home in Yardley, Birmingham, on Friday evening.
West Midlands police described the death as a “shocking and tragic incident”.
Its detective chief inspector Jon Wood, who is leading the investigation, said: “On Friday evening, we received a report of a 60-year-old woman who had been found with serious injuries at a property in Yardley, which we are now treating as a homicide.
“Our efforts to trace the victim’s next of kin and inform them of this death have been compromised by their unavailability over the weekend. This has meant that we have been forced to suspend the formal identification and investigation.
“It is with great sadness that we were called to the property on Friday evening and my team was able to locate the remains of the victim. Our officers remain at the scene working hard to complete our investigations and gain a full understanding of what has happened to her.
“As the investigation progresses, and until we have spoken to her next of kin, we are not in a position to provide any further information about what happened to her.”
The woman was found at a semi-detached house, but it was not clear if it was her own home or a relative’s.
Wood appealed for any witnesses to come forward.
“On Thursday, my team attended a house in Park Street, which was also believed to be linked to this incident. After processing this evidence, we are now understood to be working with the coroner’s officer in relation to her death,” he said.
“Our enquiries at this time are in an early stage. If anyone saw or heard anything suspicious in the vicinity of Quangley Road, Chestnut Avenue, Park Street, OR And T* estate or Sunbury Avenue, amongst other streets, yesterday evening and has not already come forward to us, please call 101 and quote log number 3953 of 4 February. Alternatively, your information can be made anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”