This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/aug/19/missing-woman-murdered-walsall-susan-whiting

The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Missing woman found murdered in Walsall Two held on suspicion of murder after body find in missing woman search
(about 3 hours later)
A murder investigation has been launched in the West Midlands after the body of a woman with learning difficulties was found at a house during a missing person search. Two people have been arrested on suspicion of murder after police found a body in the search for a missing woman with learning difficulties.
Police said detectives looking for Susan Whiting, last seen alive on Monday, made the discovery in Walsall on Tuesday. West Midlands police said detectives looking for Susan Whiting, last seen on Monday, made the discovery in a house in Walsall on Tuesday.
The body has yet to be formally identified, but West Midlands police are treating the death as suspicious. The body has yet to be formally identified. West Midlands police are treating the death as suspicious.
A 34-year-old man and a 35-year-old woman have been arrested on suspicion of murder in connection with the find. A postmortem is now due to take place to establish the cause of death. A 34-year-old man and a 35-year-old woman were held in connection with the find. A postmortem is due to take place to establish the cause of death.
Forensics teams are still at the house while officers carry out door-to-door inquiries in the area.Forensics teams are still at the house while officers carry out door-to-door inquiries in the area.
Speaking after launching the missing person’s appeal, DS Paul Reeves said 20-year-old Whiting had never gone missing before.Speaking after launching the missing person’s appeal, DS Paul Reeves said 20-year-old Whiting had never gone missing before.
Whiting’s family raised the alarm when she failed to meet her mother to get a pre-arranged lift home.Whiting’s family raised the alarm when she failed to meet her mother to get a pre-arranged lift home.
Meanwhile, the death has been referred to the Independent Police Complaints Commission, which the force said was routine when a missing person is found dead.Meanwhile, the death has been referred to the Independent Police Complaints Commission, which the force said was routine when a missing person is found dead.
The police have been focusing their attentions on a terraced bungalow, setting up a forensics tent in the back garden.
Neighbours reacted with shock at the discovery of the body and Tuesday’s arrests of what residents described as a lovely couple.
One man, who gave his name as Peter, said: “They took two people away, a man and a woman. He was a very nice man.
“When he first moved here, he offered to help everybody and offered to dig my garden because I can’t get about, you see. He fixed the handrail to my front door.”
His helper, who declined to give her name, said they were “a lovely couple”. She added: “I am gobsmacked to find out what’s happened – we’ve never had any trouble here. I’m so shocked.”
Dorothy and Bob Armstrong, whose garden backs on to that of the cordoned-off bungalow’s, said it was chilling to think of what may have happened.
“It’s a terrible shame to think of that young girl,” said 84-year-old council tenant Mrs Armstrong. “I’ve been wanting to move away from here, to be honest.”
She added: “The man they took away, he was always doing things in the yard, trimming the hedges at the back and cutting the lawns for other people.”
Julie Pritchard, who has lived on a neighbouring street for 12 years, said: “This is a real shock – we’ve never had anything like this happen here.”