Workmen found the deceased at around 2pm last Monday (January 13), leading to a lengthy closure of the motorway between Junctions 5 (Watford) and 6 (North Watford) as investigations took place.
Having been in contact with the force again this week, here is the latest situation, along with why it may take some time to get more details confirmed.
What have police said?
Police have confirmed that the deceased was male and that the body was discovered by workmen in undergrowth.
They said it is too early to say whether foul play is being suspected and have not ruled out any eventuality.
They have also confirmed that the body has still not been formally identified, and that the next of kin has not been told. This would have to happen before any more information would be public.
How long was the body there and how could this impact the timeline?
Police have refrained from giving any sort of guidance on how long the deceased is believed to have been there. However, an eyewitness claimed to have been told by one of the workers that the body was decomposed – suggesting it had been there for some time.
If true, this would make identifying the deceased harder for police and therefore take longer to provide further updates.
How do police typically identify a body?
Police often attempt to identify a body by its DNA, taking fingerprints at the scene of its discovery.
Speaking generally about identifying a body, Denise Syndercombe Court, professor of forensic genetics at Kings College London, told IFLScience: “If the body has remained unidentified for a long period of time, the police may go down what’s called a familial search, looking for either parents, children, or full siblings of the deceased in the criminal records.”
Other methods include using possessions found with the body (where they exist) and analysing dental records. The latter can be a lengthy process, including contact with dentists and the retrieval of records.
Is it unusual for this process to take a long time?
Simply put, no. Identifying a body can take days, weeks or even months.
Just last week, police in Lancashire identified someone who was found over a year earlier. The 13-month investigation saw police liaise with other forces and employ facial recognition software as well as the analysis of DNA and fingerprints.
Eventually the man was identified using familial DNA after they were located in another country.
While this does not mean the case in Watford will be similar, it serves as an example of how long complex cases like this can take.
What happens next?
Police have asked that the public treat the case sensitively and not engage in baseless speculation. The force says it will provide updates – such as when the deceased has been identified and what type of investigation is being conducted – when they are able to do so.