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Police hunt man after woman's body found in her home Police hunt man after woman's body found in north-west London
(about 1 hour later)
Police have named a man they are hunting after the body of a woman he is believed to have met online was discovered in her home.Police have named a man they are hunting after the body of a woman he is believed to have met online was discovered in her home.
The body of Usha Patel, 44, was discovered at the flat she shared with her young son in Cricklewood, north west London, on Thursday morning. The body of Usha Patel, 44, was discovered at the flat she shared with her young son in Cricklewood, north-west London, on Thursday morning.
The Metropolitan police said on Friday they want to speak to Miles Donnelly, 34, who is also known as Miles Ryan, in connection with the death and have warned the public not to approach him. They said Patel and Donnelly had been in contact with each other online and had arranged to meet.The Metropolitan police said on Friday they want to speak to Miles Donnelly, 34, who is also known as Miles Ryan, in connection with the death and have warned the public not to approach him. They said Patel and Donnelly had been in contact with each other online and had arranged to meet.
Patel cared for her son, whom neighbours said was aged five and autistic. They said he was seen holding the hand of a police community support officer at the property after the police were called.Patel cared for her son, whom neighbours said was aged five and autistic. They said he was seen holding the hand of a police community support officer at the property after the police were called.
Patel’s body was discovered just after 8am on Thursday at her home on Melrose Avenue, Cricklewood. A Scotland Yard spokesman said: “We are asking anyone who may have seen [Donnelly] not to approach him but to call 999 instead.”Patel’s body was discovered just after 8am on Thursday at her home on Melrose Avenue, Cricklewood. A Scotland Yard spokesman said: “We are asking anyone who may have seen [Donnelly] not to approach him but to call 999 instead.”
Donnelly is described as a white man, about 5ft 11in tall and his last known address was in Paddington but he is believed to visit a number of London boroughs.Donnelly is described as a white man, about 5ft 11in tall and his last known address was in Paddington but he is believed to visit a number of London boroughs.
DCI Matt Bonner said: “Inquiries are under way to establish the full circumstances of Usha’s death and as part of these enquiries I am very keen to speak to Miles Donnelly, aka Miles Ryan, as he may have information which could assist me.DCI Matt Bonner said: “Inquiries are under way to establish the full circumstances of Usha’s death and as part of these enquiries I am very keen to speak to Miles Donnelly, aka Miles Ryan, as he may have information which could assist me.
“I would appeal directly to him to contact the police so that we can speak to him. It is possible that he will look to friends and associates for support, and I urge them not to get involved but to contact us instead. I would like to reassure anyone who is worried about contacting the police that they will be treated with the utmost sensitivity.”“I would appeal directly to him to contact the police so that we can speak to him. It is possible that he will look to friends and associates for support, and I urge them not to get involved but to contact us instead. I would like to reassure anyone who is worried about contacting the police that they will be treated with the utmost sensitivity.”
A post-mortem examination to establish the cause of Patel’s death is due to take place.A post-mortem examination to establish the cause of Patel’s death is due to take place.
Neighbour Sali Aboudali, 42, said her child went to school with Patel’s son, who would spend weekends with his father. “She was a very nice lady,” she said. “She invited me to a Zumba class. She was very friendly. All the neighbours listened to her singing. Her son depended on her for everything. She said he had autism.”Neighbour Sali Aboudali, 42, said her child went to school with Patel’s son, who would spend weekends with his father. “She was a very nice lady,” she said. “She invited me to a Zumba class. She was very friendly. All the neighbours listened to her singing. Her son depended on her for everything. She said he had autism.”
It is unclear whether the boy was present at the flat when the body was found.It is unclear whether the boy was present at the flat when the body was found.
A man who lives in the flat below said: “She was hippy-looking. She was like a female John Lennon. Very jolly and bubbly. She had a happy look about her. She had a boy about six or seven years old living with her. He had autism. A few days ago I saw her son and he knocked on the window and waved at me.”A man who lives in the flat below said: “She was hippy-looking. She was like a female John Lennon. Very jolly and bubbly. She had a happy look about her. She had a boy about six or seven years old living with her. He had autism. A few days ago I saw her son and he knocked on the window and waved at me.”
The man, who did not wish to be named, said he heard someone enter the building on Thursday morning and noticed Patel’s door was ajar when he left for work. Police officers said the boy had been taken to a safe place following his mother’s death, he added.The man, who did not wish to be named, said he heard someone enter the building on Thursday morning and noticed Patel’s door was ajar when he left for work. Police officers said the boy had been taken to a safe place following his mother’s death, he added.
Aboudali said she saw Patel at around 3.30pm on Wednesday, when she would usually collect her son from school, but he was not with her. A man thought to be the boy’s grandfather attended the property on Thursday after police discovered Patel’s body, she added.Aboudali said she saw Patel at around 3.30pm on Wednesday, when she would usually collect her son from school, but he was not with her. A man thought to be the boy’s grandfather attended the property on Thursday after police discovered Patel’s body, she added.
Oumayma Essalah, 31, who has lived in the street for 18 months, said: “She was always laughing. She was singing.”Oumayma Essalah, 31, who has lived in the street for 18 months, said: “She was always laughing. She was singing.”
A police officer was standing guard on Friday outside the woman’s home, which is in a semi-detached building containing three flats. Neighbours said she had lived at the property for about nine years.A police officer was standing guard on Friday outside the woman’s home, which is in a semi-detached building containing three flats. Neighbours said she had lived at the property for about nine years.