Police leave Rotherham search site after five-day excavation in hunt for remains of Teresa Shephard
Teresa’s killer Peter Turner has never provided any indication as to where he disposed of her body
Police have called off the resumed search for the body of a woman murdered more than three decades ago, following a five-day excavation.
Cutlery worker Teresa Shephard, aged 26, disappeared without a trace in June 1995.
Police built a case against her ex-boyfriend Peter Turner despite a body ever being found, and just over a year later he was convicted of Teresa’s murder, leading to him receiving an indefinite life sentence.
A fresh search for Teresa’s remains began this week, leading to renewed hope that Teresa’s loved ones may finally be given answers.
Unfortunately, following five days of excavating, no remains have been found, police confirmed this afternoon (Friday, September 18, 2026).
Dave Stopford, head South Yorkshire Police’s Major Incident Review Team (MIRT) MIRT, said: "Teresa's family have been made aware of this update, and our thoughts are with them as they continue to live with the indescribable pain of not knowing where Teresa’s remains are.
“They continue to ask for their privacy to be respected at this difficult time."
Officers began combing a site off Piper Lane in Aston, Rotherham on Monday (September 14, 2026), following a review by MIRT.
The review led to the team exploring several lines of enquiry to identify the site as a potential place Teresa may have been buried.
Turner, now aged 54, formerly of Doncaster Road, Worksop, has never cooperated with police enquiries as to where Teresa’s body was disposed.
He has remained behind bars since the guilty verdicts were returned in July 1996, and is set to bid for his freedom in a Parole Board hearing scheduled to take place next month.