Police looking for two people in connection with the murder of Anita Rose

The 57-year-old was found unconscious with serious head injuries and later died in hospital.

Anita Rose
Author: Shaunna BurnsPublished 4th Sep 2024

Police are keen to speak to two individuals in connection with the murder of Anita Rose in Brantham.

Anita left her house at approximately 5am on Wednesday 24 July to take her dog for a walk.

At approximately 6:25am a member of public found Anita lying unconscious on a track near the Anglian Water sewage works and railway line, off Rectory Lane, and called an ambulance. Officers were then called by the East of England Ambulance Service shortly after 8am.

Anita was taken to Addenbrooke’s Hospital having sustained a serious head injury, where she sadly died four days later (on Sunday 28 July).

Extensive enquiries have been completed since the incident and as part of this officers have reviewed over one hundred hours of CCTV. From this, several individuals have already been located and spoken to through house to house and witness enquiries and officers are grateful for the immense support provided to the police from the community of Brantham.

Police are keen to speak to two individuals who are yet to be identified as it is believed that they may be able to assist the enquiry and could possibly hold key information that would help to find the person responsible for the attack on Anita.

Person one
Person two

Detective Superintendent Mike Brown said: “Following our CCTV searches, house to house and witness enquiries, we have been able to narrow down who we would like to speak to in connection with Anita’s murder. It must be understood that we believe they may be able to assist us in our enquiries and are not suspects in this case.

“It’s important we identify and locate these two individuals to get a better understanding of how they can assist the investigation. Any information they have, big or small, could assist in establishing the full circumstances surrounding Anita’s injuries and subsequent death and so we ask these individuals or anyone who may know them to get in contact with us.”

Tracking from an application on Anita’s mobile phone revealed her walk started at 5am in Palfrey Heights. The walk reached the end of Newmill Lane by the river, then turned around and returned back up Newmill Lane where the app was manually stopped at 6.03am close to The Street, at the top of Newmill Lane. Further analysis has shown that it was normal for the app to be stopped at this point in Anita’s usual walk.

Police are particularly keen to speak with anyone who may have seen Anita - or anyone else - that morning, especially between 6am and 6:30am, from the top of Newmill Lane, at the junction with The Street, to the track road between the railway line and the Anglia Water sewage treatment plant, near Rectory Lane where Anita was found.

Anyone with information regarding suspicious people or vehicles seen in the area are urged to get in touch.

Detectives also continue to appeal for Anita’s missing cerise Regatta Calderdale II jacket and black phone case which is described as a black wallet style quilted case with gold crown and stud detail.

To date, Suffolk Police enquiries have generated over 200 statements and 1,200 house to house questionnaires.

Anyone who recognises the individuals depicted in the images or has any information in regards to this murder investigation should contact Suffolk police.

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