Police have launched a murder investigation after the body of a woman in her 70s was found in the walled garden area of Stanley Park on Friday evening (August 28). Detectives said the woman's body may have been there for a number of weeks.
Local residents express fear and shock
Young mum Jojo Miron, who walks through the park with her husband Alex, 35, and their baby regularly, told the ECHO: “I’m petrified to be alone in the park. I come here every morning, and I pass that area. I couldn’t come here on my own now, and even together we won’t come here in the evening now. But we’ve never had a problem before in the park.”
Jojo added: “It’s tragic. Our grandparents are the same age as this poor lady.” Alex added: “The scene has been there for a long time, and there’s so many families with kids passing, asking what’s happened.”
Police activity at the scene
On Sunday morning (August 30), officers in white suits remained active around a blue tent set up on a path in the walled garden section, which is open and visible from the rest of the park. Officers stood guard on the terrace and entrances to the area, which were taped off.
Helen Brennan, 56, from Fazakerly, regularly visits the park with her dad, Jimmy Brennan, 88. She said: “It’s so sad that this has happened in our park, and no-one has come forward yet. The fair has been on, and the park has been busy with families. Just across the way is the old boating lake, and the lads are always down there fishing. My dad and I come here all the time and we love it here, and it’s so shocking that this has happened here.”
Appeal for information
Police are going door-to-door in Anfield as they investigate the murder, with locals receiving notes through doors from police informing them of the death and appealing for information. Anfield Road resident Sean Herlihy, 68, said: “Police came knocking and asked if my CCTV camera was working in the window, and if I’d seen anything unusual, however small, but I don’t know anything about it.”
Police confirmed Saturday evening the woman was white, around 5’2” tall, aged in her 70s, and had strawberry blonde hair. She was wearing “distinctive” cerise pink Nike T-shirt. A woman living on Anfield Road, who declined to give her name, said: “This has happened so close to home, and it’s frightening. That’s someone’s mum or nan.”
The path next to the scene is popular with dog walkers. Gary Georgeson, 64, walks his two dogs through the park each day. “This is a busy park. We walk along that path all the time and I’m surprised the dog didn’t find it. Loads of kids go to that terrace every night.” Anna Parsons, 39, said: “Stuff like this seems to happen all the time. It’s terribly sad but I’m not surprised, and it won’t change how I use the park.”
Janice Slinn, 65, from Bootle, was taking a walk around Anfield Road and the park when she spoke to the ECHO. She said: “This is a nice area with a lovely park, and it’s a shocking place for this to have happened. The fair is on, there’s loads of kids about, and there’s all the people coming for the football too. It’s a busy area.”
Detective's plea to the public
Detective Superintendent Rachel Wilson said on Saturday evening: “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. 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. Do you recognise the description of the woman or do you have any information about who she is? Please come forward and tell us what you know. I 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 - have you seen or heard anyone acting suspiciously or do you have any information which could assist our investigation? Please speak to us as a matter of urgency.”
Anyone with information should contact Merseyside Police social media desk using X or Facebook @MerPolCC. You can also report information via the website or by calling 101 quoting reference 26000706383. Alternatively, contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111, or via their website. In an emergency always call 999. Information, including video, can also be passed on via the Major Incident Public Portal.
