Detectives in London are investigating whether human remains found in woodland could be those of a missing student.

Joy Morgan, 20, was murdered in December 2018 by a fellow worshipper at the Israel United in Christ church in Ilford, east London.

Shohfah-El Israel, 40, was jailed for 17 years in August, although Morgan’s body has yet to be found.

Hertfordshire police said officers had been called to reports of a suspected human body in woodland.

The force said: “Police were called by a member of the public at 7.43am on Saturday 5 October to reports of a suspected human body found in woodland off Chadwell Road, Stevenage. Officers are in attendance at the scene. No identification has been made at this time.”

When Israel was jailed at Reading crown court, Morgan’s mother, Carol, pleaded with him to reveal where her body was.

Speaking outside the court, she said: “Give me my baby back, he knows where she is. The way I hear it, he was besotted with her … If he loved her, give her back up to us so I can bury my daughter. If I get to see her before I die I’ll be very grateful.”

Israel, a married father whose birth name is Ajibola Shogbamimu, and Morgan spent time alone together, against strict church rules.

After murdering her, he tried to cover his tracks by removing her number from a church Telegram group chat and even kept up the pretence by going to her student house-share under the guise of checking on her in the days after she apparently went missing.