Police have launched a murder investigation after an elderly woman was found dead in a Liverpool park.
Officers were called to Stanley Park on Friday afternoon following reports of a body discovered in a walled garden area.
The woman, who is yet to be identified, was believed to be in her 70s, of small build, with strawberry blonde hair.
She was wearing a ‘distinctive pink T-shirt’ when she was found dead shortly before 5.30pm by a member of the public.
Police confirmed an investigation is ongoing and CCTV, witness and forensic enquiries are being carried out.
A post-mortem has also taken place – though the results are said to have been withheld for investigative reasons.
Preliminary enquiries suggest the woman’s body could have been in the park for a number of weeks, police said.
Detective Superintendent Rachel Wilson added: ‘We understand that this will be distressing and worrying for people to hear and I want the local community to be reassured that we are doing everything in our powers to find the person or persons responsible and bring them to justice.
Officers were called to Stanley Park on Friday afternoon following reports of a body discovered in a walled garden area. Forensics are pictured here at the scene
Police confirmed an investigation is ongoing and CCTV, witness and forensic enquiries are being carried out
‘We have carried out a number of lines of enquiry, including examining any missing people reports in the Merseyside and wider area, but at this stage we have not been able to identify the woman and would ask for the public’s help by coming forward with any information.
‘We know she is a white woman, aged in her 70s, approximately 5ft 2in tall, of small build with strawberry blonde hair.
‘When she was found she was wearing a distinctive cerise pink Nike T-shirt.’
Ms Wilson said she ‘would also ask any walkers or dog walkers who have been in the park, and specifically the area of the walled garden, in recent days or weeks’ to come forward as soon as possible if they had seen or heard anyone acting suspiciously.
Earlier today, crime scene detectives in white suits were busy around the blue forensic tent with uniformed officers patrolling the perimeter. Three gates around the scene were taped off.
Bobby Potts, 80, was walking his dog, Alf, past Stanley Park this morning.
He said: ‘I walk my dog every day in this park, and it’s a good place. Most of the people coming in know each other. It’s a long time since something like this happened here. You see stuff like this on the telly, but it’s getting a bit close to home here.’
Patrick Burns, 41, has lived on Anfield Road for 15 years. His home faces the edge of the park where the woman’s body was found.
A police cordon remains in place tonight inside the park. The entrance to Stanley Park in Liverpool is pictured (file image)
He said: ‘It’s scary. You don’t expect it to happen on your doorstep. It’s a real shock.’
Another Anfield Road resident added: ‘It’s terrible. It’s a nice park, with kids playing football in the week. Whoever it is, it’s a real shame for it to happen, and a terrible shock too.’
A police cordon remains in place tonight inside the park and a mobile police station will also be in the vicinity of the park from tomorrow, Sunday, August 30.
Anyone with information has been advised to contact the Merseyside Police social media desk using X or Facebook @MerPolCC.
Information can also be reported via the website or by calling 101 quoting reference 26000706383 – alternatively, the independent charity Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously on 0800 555 111.
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