Mansion fire victim ID'ed as owner's wife

MAESBROOK, England, Aug. 31 (UPI) -- One of the two bodies found in the burned-out ruins of a British mansion belonged to its troubled owner's wife, authorities said Sunday.

Jillian Foster, 49, had been shot to death before she was burned, a forensic investigation determined. Another body, believed to be that of her husband, businessman Christopher Foster, was also found, as was a .22-caliber rifle, The Sunday Times reported.

Still missing is the couple's 15-year-old daughter Kirstie, an Ellesmere College student believed to be chatting on the Internet up until when officials believe the fire started, the newspaper said.

Christopher Foster had reportedly been facing ruin with debts of about $3.3 million. The fire happened just before court bailiffs were on their way to confront him, sources say.

Also found nearby was the body of a dog, which had also been shot. Elsewhere on the estate, police found three other dogs and three horses that had also been shot to death, the Sunday Times reported.

The newspaper reported Foster's company, Ulva Limited, which supplied insulation to oil rigs, was in liquidation, owing $1.5 million in unpaid taxes.