Police say it could be several days or even weeks before they can establish the identity of a body found at a burned-out cottage in Crovie.
Search teams discovered human remains inside the property in the tiny coastal village on Thursday evening.
They are now trying to formally identify the body through DNA tests and dental records.
A spokesman for the force said the process could take some time.
It is feared the cottage’s owner, Joan Rennie, was at home when the blaze started on Tuesday evening.
Police confirmed they had also found a dead dog in the house, which is believed to be Miss Rennie’s beloved springer spaniel Milly.
Officers confirmed that both were still unaccounted for last night.
Crovie resident Billy Wiseman raised the alarm when he spotted flames and thick smoke coming from the cottage just after 7pm on Tuesday.
About 20 firefighters from across the north-east spent just over two hours tackling the blaze.
At the time, it was feared someone was inside the property when the fire took hold.
But it was not until Thursday morning that investigators were given the all-clear to go inside and search the building.
The one-and-a-half storey property had to be made safe first by structural engineers.