A family has successfully compelled police to reopen an investigation into the death of a woman found wearing only one sock and surrounded by blood splatters. Katie Beattie, 27, was discovered deceased in her flat in Lancaster, Lancashire, on July 1, 2024.
Initial Findings and Family Concerns
Her parents, Shonna, 61, and David Beattie, 67, grew worried after not hearing from her for several days. They contacted emergency services, who entered Katie's flat and found her wearing just one sock, with bruises on her body. Neighbor doorbell footage showed Katie entering her flat with a man days before her death, and the neighbor saw him leaving the day before her body was found. Police initially concluded there was no evidence to suggest a suspicious death.
Family's Unanswered Questions
However, the family, with unanswered questions, campaigned for a fresh review, which has now been reopened. Katie's sister, Kellie Rhodes, 38, a retail assistant from Lancaster, stated: "Over the last two years, we haven't had time to grieve. We want a criminal prosecution for the male who was in her flat. We believe there is enough evidence to build a case against him." She noted the deterioration of Katie's body indicated he was present when she died. The family found a needle mark on her foot, with no needle at the scene.
Katie's Struggles and Last Days
Kellie described Katie as "happy-go-lucky" and an animal lover, but said she struggled with alcoholism to cope with autism, leading her to "the wrong crowd." She had been in rehab multiple times. On June 28, 2024, the family dropped Katie off at her flat after a 13-day stay at a mental health unit in Barrow-in-Furness. Her father asked her to promise she would be fine. Days later, when they hadn't heard from her, they called police, who initially refused a welfare check. At 6pm on July 1, ambulance and fire crews found Katie dead on her bed.
Evidence and Police Response
Kellie and her sister Emily drove to the flat, where paramedics were outside. Kellie believed police were investigating as a crime after sending for a forensic foot plate. The next day, police returned Katie's guinea pig and new keys, saying no further action was planned. At the mortuary, staff said police were not treating the death as suspicious. The family persuaded them to check for puncture marks, which they found. They also claim Katie's left foot had been cleaned before arrival. An inquest could not determine the cause of death.
Kellie described entering the flat later: "You could see the outline of where Katie was lying on the bed; it was brown and discolored. There were blood droplets by the sofa, on the ceiling, and by the bed. I saw a bottle of washing up liquid on the bed, empty bottles of vodka. I couldn't believe the police saw nothing suspicious."
Case Reopened
After the case was closed in August 2025, Kellie submitted a victim's right to review application. Lancashire Police confirmed the original investigation has been reassessed and further enquiries are being conducted. Kellie said: "This has been a two-year battle. We have done all the work. My dad was going around getting CCTV from local places. We shouldn't have done any of this."
Lancashire Police appeal for anyone with information to call 101 quoting log 1092 of 1 July 2024.
