Police say it could be several days, or even weeks, before they can determine the identity of a body found at a burnt-out cottage in Crovie.
Search teams discovered human remains inside the property on Thursday evening.
They are now trying to formally ID the body through DNA analysis and dental records.
A spokesman for the force said the process will take some time.
It is feared that the property’s owner, Joan Rennie, was at home when the blaze took hold on Tuesday evening. Police confirmed they had also found a dead dog in the wreckage of the house, which is believed to be Miss Rennie’s beloved springer spaniel Milly.
