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Woman found murdered near river | Woman found murdered near river |
(about 1 hour later) | |
A 19-year-old woman who was murdered on a riverside footpath in Reading while on her way home was found by a jogger. | |
It has been reported the victim, found next to the Kennet River, alongside the A33, in the Berkshire town on Monday night, had been stabbed several times. | |
The contents of her handbag were strewn across the path. The woman worked part-time in a shop in Reading. | |
Detectives said they were keeping an open mind as to the motive but thought she could have been mugged. | |
The dead woman's family has been informed and she is expected to be formally identified later. | |
We cannot speculate on the cause of her death or the nature of her injuries at this time Supt Jim WeemsThames Valley Police | |
During a press conference at the town's police station, Supt Jim Weems, Thames Valley Police's area commander for Reading, said: "We believe that the victim may have been walking home from work at the time of the incident. | |
"A post-mortem is taking place this afternoon. We can therefore not speculate on the cause of her death or the nature of her injuries at this time. | |
"I am confident that someone out there knows how and why this happened." | |
The jogger telephoned 999 at about 2115 GMT on Monday. | |
A cordon remains in place and the footpath along the A33 - one of the main routes into Reading - near the Green Park industrial estate remains closed. | |
People walking their dogs near the murder scene, close to the Madejski Stadium, said they avoided the area at night because it was badly lit. | People walking their dogs near the murder scene, close to the Madejski Stadium, said they avoided the area at night because it was badly lit. |
Kathryn Hilliard, 28, of nearby Kennet Island, said: "That part of the footpath is a bit scary and there's a lot of graffiti down there. | Kathryn Hilliard, 28, of nearby Kennet Island, said: "That part of the footpath is a bit scary and there's a lot of graffiti down there. |
"I would never go down there in the dark on my own." | "I would never go down there in the dark on my own." |
Police helicopter | Police helicopter |
Another resident, Margaret Ward, said: "It's quite picturesque, but it's not somewhere I'd walk in the middle of the night because there's no lighting there. | Another resident, Margaret Ward, said: "It's quite picturesque, but it's not somewhere I'd walk in the middle of the night because there's no lighting there. |
"It's quite incredible to believe because it's a nice little area around here. | "It's quite incredible to believe because it's a nice little area around here. |
"But even with my dogs I wouldn't walk under the bridge. It's a blow to think this has happened somewhere where I walk every day." | "But even with my dogs I wouldn't walk under the bridge. It's a blow to think this has happened somewhere where I walk every day." |
Detectives said the area was popular with dog walkers and cyclists and appealed for information. | Detectives said the area was popular with dog walkers and cyclists and appealed for information. |
Det Supt Karen Trego, leading the investigation, said: "It is not well lit and in the evening is not that well used. | |
"It was a member of the public who found the lady while out jogging." | |
Forensic officers spent the morning examining part of the path, which passes beneath two bridges, while a force helicopter was circling overhead. | Forensic officers spent the morning examining part of the path, which passes beneath two bridges, while a force helicopter was circling overhead. |
Footage from CCTV cameras in the vicinity will also be examined by police. | Footage from CCTV cameras in the vicinity will also be examined by police. |