Human remains were discovered inside a suitcase abandoned near a children's park in Rochester, Kent, while a teddy bear hunt was underway. The grim find prompted a police response on Friday evening, with officers assisting the Metropolitan Police in a murder investigation originating from London.
Discovery at Borstal Recreation Ground
A woman attending the teddy bear hunt, organized as a fundraiser for a local nursery, described hearing a loud buzzing from flies before seeing the suitcase in a wooded area. She told Kent Online: 'I saw the luggage before the police. I was with my niece and nephew, so I was busy keeping them from seeing it. What I saw was the suitcase covered in hundreds of flies. I actually heard the buzzing from them first. I noticed that it was a large suitcase and had a snow sledge next to it.'
Arrests and charges
Detectives confirmed that Joshua Miller, 32, of Wandsworth, has been charged with murder and preventing a lawful and decent burial. Jamie Cooper, 27, has been charged with preventing a lawful and decent burial. The victim, named as Jamie Cooper, was known to both men, according to police.
Community shock
Parents at the park expressed shock. Ivan Tsvetkov, 38, who was playing with his child, said: 'I can’t imagine something like this happening at the park. I play there with my child. There are always loads of people there, so I am shocked by it. It’s a nice quiet area and I wouldn’t expect something like that here.'
Miller and Cooper are scheduled to appear at Medway Magistrates’ Court on Monday.
