Police issue fresh appeal two weeks on since the murder of Suffolk dogwalker
Two weeks on from her attack, detectives are renewing their appeal for witnesses and information as they continue to investigate the death of Anita Rose in Brantham.
Two weeks on from her attack, detectives are renewing their appeal for witnesses and information as they continue to investigate the death of Anita Rose in Brantham.
On Wednesday 24 July, 57-year-old Anita left her home address at around 5am to walk her dog.
The force say her final movements would have followed one of her usual dog walking routes; starting at Palfrey Heights, where she turned onto a track road off Brooklands Rise which she then followed to Rectory Lane, before turning onto The Chase and the A137 Ipswich Road.
From there she would have turned onto Newmill Lane, reaching the river before turning back, retracing her steps up to Ipswich Road. Two further cordons were put in place on Sunday (4 August) at the top and bottom of Newmill Lane as points of interest.
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, off Ipswich Road, to the track road between the railway line and the Anglia Water sewage treatment plant, near Rectory Lane where Anita was found.
She was found injured and unconscious at around 6.30am by a member of the public who called an ambulance. Police were then called shortly after 8am by the East of England Ambulance Service.
Anita had sustained a serious head injury and was taken to Addenbrooke’s Hospital where she sadly died on Sunday morning (28 July). Specially trained officers continue to support Anita’s family.
A Home Office post-mortem examination was conducted on Tuesday 30 July. A cause of death has not been established and will be subject to further tests. The Major Investigation Team continue to investigate this as a murder.
Detectives continue to search for Anita’s pink zip-up jacket which they believe she was wearing immediately prior to the incident. The missing pink zip-up jacket is described as waterproof in material and believed to be from an outdoor clothing brand, possibly from Regatta.
Officers have previously arrested and bailed three people in connection with the incident; two on suspicion of murder and one on suspicion of handling stolen goods.
Police enquiries continue, with forensic work, searches, house-to-house enquiries and CCTV analysis, and residents can expect to see a police presence in the village.
Detective Superintendent Mike Brown said: “It has now been two weeks since Anita was attacked and we continue to work hard to establish the circumstances around her death.
“The response we have received via our Major Incident Public Portal and questionnaires have been invaluable and it’s important that the public continue to engage with us.
“I strongly encourage anyone with information to please come forward and speak with us, either directly to officers in the village or via our portal. We are particularly interested in hearing about anyone seen in the areas between Newmill Lane and Rectory Lane, near the railway line and the sewage treatment plant, between 6am and 6:30am. If you have information – no matter how insignificant this may seem – we want to hear from you. It could be critical in pursuing and opening up new lines of enquiries.
“We also urge people to please refrain from speculating about the incident, to allow the investigation and any subsequent court proceedings to take place.”