Body Found In Murder Investigation

Officers investigating the disappearance of Carole Waugh have found the body of a woman in New Malden.

The body was discovered in a lock up garage in Lime Court at 1900hrs on Thursday 2 August as the result of police enquiries.

The body is yet to be formally identified and has been taken to Kingston mortuary. A post-mortem examination will take place later today, Friday 3 August.

On Wednesday 1 August, detectives confirmed that the disappearance of Carole Waugh was now a being treated as a murder investigation.

It follows the further arrest on the same day of a 47-year-old man on suspicion of her murder.

He was previously arrested on Tuesday 31 July at Luton Airport, where he was an incoming passenger, on suspicion of conspiracy to defraud, and on suspicion of kidnap.

He remains in custody at a south London police station. A warrant of further detention was granted at Croydon Magistrates Court yesterday (2 August).

Carole Waugh, 50 (20.06.62) of Tressard Court, Harrowby Street W1 was reported missing by her family on 7 May 2012.

The last believed sighting of Ms Waugh was initially though to be in central London on 4 May 2012 - this was unconfirmed, however we now believe that she has not been seen alive since 16 April.

She has never gone missing before.

Following Ms Waugh's disappearance, there have been a number of fraudulent transactions associated with Ms Waugh's bank account.

A number of her personal possessions currently cannot be located.

An incident room has opened at Sutton under Detective Chief Inspector John McFarlane of the Homicide and Serious Crime Command (HSCC). The case was initially treated as a missing persons investigation and has now moved to a murder investigation.

DCI John McFarlane said: "Information has been received which has progressed this inquiry and we are now treating Carole's disappearance as a murder investigation.

"I am unable to go into further detail about the nature of the new information at this time, however, we now believe that Carole has not been seen alive since 16 April. Since that time, significant plundering of her estate has taken place to the value of hundreds of thousands of pounds.

"In addition to a number of fraudulent transactions associated with Carole's bank account there are also a number of her personal possessions that currently cannot be located.

"I am releasing images of items of Cartier jewellery, identical to that worn by Carole, which are amongst items missing from her personal possessions.

"The jewellery that is missing is as follows: a Cartier ring, a white gold bracelet; a yellow gold bracelet and a yellow gold necklace, which are all in the same style.

"Carole wore the jewellery regularly and I appeal to anyone may have been offered such jewellery or has any knowledge of its whereabouts to contact us with information.

"Anyone with information that can assist this investigation is urged to contact the incident room at Sutton on 020 8721 4205; if you wish to remain anonymous please call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111."

To date, a total of 10 people have been arrested in connection with the investigation.

(GK)