Police have released a facial reconstruction of a woman whose body was found in a bin bag in Stanley Park, Liverpool, hoping someone will recognise her and help identify her.
The woman, believed to be aged between 60 and 80, was discovered by a passer-by at about 5.25pm on Friday, August 28, in the walled garden area of the park in the Anfield area of Liverpool. Her body was found in a black bin bag, and it is believed it may have been there undiscovered for up to six weeks.
Police appeal for help identifying woman
Detectives have been working with Face Lab and Liverpool John Moores University to produce a restructured image of the woman's face. Police have said she was malnourished and had no teeth, as well as several medical conditions, including osteoporosis, arthritis and COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease).
The woman is described as white, approximately 5ft 2in (1.57m) tall, with a slight build and strawberry blonde hair. She was wearing a distinctive cerise pink Nike T-shirt. The cause of her death has not been disclosed.
Investigation details and public appeal
Det Supt Rachel Wilson said: "I am grateful for the expert work that the team have done at Face Lab have done to develop this image. This work takes some time to complete but we believe that we have a representative image of the woman. Now we need to know who she is."
Wilson added: "Do you recognise her or think you have seen her prior to 13 July? Do you have any information which could assist our enquiries? Please come forward and speak to us or if you don’t want to speak to the police then contact Crimestoppers anonymously. It is vital that we identify this woman and get the answers as to who was responsible for her murder."
The first confirmed sighting of the bin bag was on July 13. Officers have received 181 names in connection with the investigation but have so far been unable to identify the woman. They have carried out house-to-house enquiries at over 1,000 properties and have studied CCTV while forensic work continues.
Face Lab's role in the investigation
Prof Caroline Wilkinson, director of Face Lab, said they carried out cranial facial analysis to produce the image. They made a 3D model of the woman's skull in their computer system and then layered photographic images to create the image of her face.
Wilkinson said: "Face Lab is a centre of excellence relating to craniofacial identification and digital heritage. The Face Lab team have created a facial depiction to inspire recognition and assist the police in the identification of this woman and the forensic investigation into her death."
The team has previously worked on high-profile facial depictions including King Richard III of England, Robert the Bruce of Scotland, Ramesses II, St Nicholas (Father Christmas) and Mary, Queen of Scots.
Anyone with information can contact Merseyside Police on social media @MerPolcCC, through their website, or by calling 101 and quoting reference number 26000706383. A dedicated Public Portal has also been created, allowing people to send images or footage directly to the investigation team. Anyone who does not feel comfortable speaking directly to the police, or wishes to remain anonymous, can contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
