Police appeal after unidentified woman’s body found in Liverpool park

Body of victim thought to be in her 70s found in bin bag in walled garden area of Stanley Park on Friday

Police in Liverpool have urged members of the public to come forward with information after the body of an unknown woman believed to be in her 70s was found in a black bin bag in a popular park.

Merseyside police were contacted by a passerby who had found the woman’s body in Stanley Park, in the Anfield area of Liverpool, at about 5.25pm on Friday 28 August.

The body was found in a black bin bag in the walled garden area of the park. It is believed that it may have lain there undiscovered for a number of weeks.

“A postmortem took place on Saturday 29 August, the result of which has been withheld for investigation reasons,” Det Supt Rachel Wilson said at a press conference on Monday. “Our team have since been carrying out extensive enquiries to identify the woman, but we have so far been unable to do so.”

Wilson said forensic work continued, adding: “We’re carrying out house-to-house, CCTV and other enquiries as a matter of urgency, but of course the methodical nature of such work can mean it takes time.”

Officers believe the woman was in her 70s. She was described as white, about 1.57 metres (5ft 2in) tall, of small build, and with strawberry-blond hair. She was found wearing a pink Nike T-shirt.

“Missing people reports in Merseyside and elsewhere have been checked but, so far, these have not resulted in an identification,” Wilson said. “Sometimes people go missing without those close to them realising, through holidays being planned or simple misunderstandings, and so we may not have received a report of any concerns.

“While we do not want to worry people unnecessarily, it is vital that we follow every possible lead, both to rule people out and ultimately to identify the woman, notify her next of kin and apprehend the offender.”

Describing the murder as a “shocking crime”, Wilson said police were “doing all we can to identify the person or persons responsible and bring them to justice”.

Stanley Park separates the Anfield and Goodison Park football stadiums, which are respectively home to Liverpool FC and Everton Women.

Assistant chief constable Andy Ryan said he understood “how unnerving” the discovery and the heightened police presence would be for local people, adding: “This is the exact reason that we are so determined to get answers as soon as we possibly can.”

He described the park as “a very busy and popular green space, especially in the recent warm summer weeks”.

“It is visited by dog walkers and families, as well as people walking and exercising,” he said. “It is quite possible that one or more of these visitors may have seen something suspicious recently and not reported it at the time.”

“I want to reiterate Rachel’s appeal,” Ryan added. “If anyone recognises the description of this woman or you have any concerns whatsoever about someone you may know and haven’t seen or heard from recently, please tell us as a matter of urgency.”

Potential witnesses are urged to contact Merseyside police via social media or to call 101, quoting reference number 26000706383.

Reports can also be made anonymously by calling Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.