The body of a missing disabled man could have lain undiscovered in a suitcase in the back garden of the family home for several weeks, it has emerged.
The claim came as Brian Kirby, the partner of the boy's mother, was being questioned over his death.
Police said that James Hughes, 22, whose mother Heather Wardle, 39, was found hanged on Monday, was being identified by his dental records.
James had a mental age of an 18-month-old, and it is thought his body was kept in a brick outhouse at the back of his terraced home.
Police are continuing to question a man understood to be Mr Kirby, who had been Miss Wardle's boyfriend for 16 years, and a youth, who has not been named, on suspicion of his murder.
They are trying to discover how James, who had epilepsy and needed round the clock care, had died. It is not known when he was last seen, with some neighbours saying he had not been spotted for several months.
A social services bus which took him to a centre for people with learning difficulties every day had stopped coming several weeks ago.
Police are still treating Miss Wardle's death as unexplained. Her disappearance last Friday sparked a major manhunt and her body was found on Monday at the base of a tree in undergrowth half a mile from her home. She had a ligature around her neck.
Ms Wardle shared the family home in Redditch, Worcestershire, with 36-year-old Mr Kirby, her partner of 16 years, and their two young sons. Her 17-year-old son Daniel, from another previous relationship, also lived at the family home.
Police have refused to officially name the two suspects taken into custody on Wednesday afternoon but. Officers are continuing to search the inside and garden of the family home in Redditch, Worcs.
James' great grandmother, Margaret Cooper, said: "I can't believe this has happened. She was such a sweet girl and very kind. I loved having her around.
"That was the last time I saw her. But I don't know what happened."
She added: "Heather was only 17 when she had James she didn't know he was disabled at first.
"You know how a child turns around when you walk in a room? Well he never did. I remember clapping my hands in front of him and nothing happened - he just wasn't there.
"So I said to Heather have you taken James to the welfare she said yes, they had an appointment and that's how they found out he was disabled.
"He was a lovely lad just so tragic that this has happened. We don't know whether James was dead before Heather or Heather died before James."
In a statement released two hours before his arrest, Mr Kirby, a toolroom supervisor, spoke of his love for Miss Wardle, who he described as "my star".
He spoke out two days after Miss Wardle's body was found and shortly before it was announced James' body had been discovered.
Mr Kirby, who is father to Miss Wardle's two youngest children Callum, 8, and Luke, 6, said she had helped him get over the death of his father in March. He described her as a "chatty, bubbly person who was full of character".
He said: "She was very houseproud and despite the demands placed on her in looking after James round the clock always ensured that all her children were clean and well clothed. She was an excellent mother and really lovely. She was great, she was my star."
The statement makes no reference to James being missing.
Friends of the youth being questioned, a warehouse worker, said he lost his job recently.
Because of the state of James' body, police said it could take some time before he is officially identified. They would not comment about speculation surrounding where James' body was found.
Supt Jane Horwood, of West Mercia police, said: "This is without doubt one of the saddest cases West Mercia Constabulary has dealt with and the events of the last few days have left residents of Church Hill and the wider Redditch community shocked."
Steve Freer, head of Pitcheroak Special School in Redditch, which James used to attend, said staff were shocked at his death. He said was a "very happy pupil" and the school had "fond memories" of him.
telegraph
The claim came as Brian Kirby, the partner of the boy's mother, was being questioned over his death.
Police said that James Hughes, 22, whose mother Heather Wardle, 39, was found hanged on Monday, was being identified by his dental records.
James had a mental age of an 18-month-old, and it is thought his body was kept in a brick outhouse at the back of his terraced home.
Police are continuing to question a man understood to be Mr Kirby, who had been Miss Wardle's boyfriend for 16 years, and a youth, who has not been named, on suspicion of his murder.
They are trying to discover how James, who had epilepsy and needed round the clock care, had died. It is not known when he was last seen, with some neighbours saying he had not been spotted for several months.
A social services bus which took him to a centre for people with learning difficulties every day had stopped coming several weeks ago.
Police are still treating Miss Wardle's death as unexplained. Her disappearance last Friday sparked a major manhunt and her body was found on Monday at the base of a tree in undergrowth half a mile from her home. She had a ligature around her neck.
Ms Wardle shared the family home in Redditch, Worcestershire, with 36-year-old Mr Kirby, her partner of 16 years, and their two young sons. Her 17-year-old son Daniel, from another previous relationship, also lived at the family home.
Police have refused to officially name the two suspects taken into custody on Wednesday afternoon but. Officers are continuing to search the inside and garden of the family home in Redditch, Worcs.
James' great grandmother, Margaret Cooper, said: "I can't believe this has happened. She was such a sweet girl and very kind. I loved having her around.
"That was the last time I saw her. But I don't know what happened."
She added: "Heather was only 17 when she had James she didn't know he was disabled at first.
"You know how a child turns around when you walk in a room? Well he never did. I remember clapping my hands in front of him and nothing happened - he just wasn't there.
"So I said to Heather have you taken James to the welfare she said yes, they had an appointment and that's how they found out he was disabled.
"He was a lovely lad just so tragic that this has happened. We don't know whether James was dead before Heather or Heather died before James."
In a statement released two hours before his arrest, Mr Kirby, a toolroom supervisor, spoke of his love for Miss Wardle, who he described as "my star".
He spoke out two days after Miss Wardle's body was found and shortly before it was announced James' body had been discovered.
Mr Kirby, who is father to Miss Wardle's two youngest children Callum, 8, and Luke, 6, said she had helped him get over the death of his father in March. He described her as a "chatty, bubbly person who was full of character".
He said: "She was very houseproud and despite the demands placed on her in looking after James round the clock always ensured that all her children were clean and well clothed. She was an excellent mother and really lovely. She was great, she was my star."
The statement makes no reference to James being missing.
Friends of the youth being questioned, a warehouse worker, said he lost his job recently.
Because of the state of James' body, police said it could take some time before he is officially identified. They would not comment about speculation surrounding where James' body was found.
Supt Jane Horwood, of West Mercia police, said: "This is without doubt one of the saddest cases West Mercia Constabulary has dealt with and the events of the last few days have left residents of Church Hill and the wider Redditch community shocked."
Steve Freer, head of Pitcheroak Special School in Redditch, which James used to attend, said staff were shocked at his death. He said was a "very happy pupil" and the school had "fond memories" of him.
telegraph
