Police have today confirmed that the body of a woman found in a Sheffield property was that of missing 48-year-old Emily Sanderson.
Emily's body was found in a property on Crofton Avenue, between Middlewood and Hillsborough, at around midday on Tuesday, May 30. A murder investigation was launched after the body was found by officers during a property search and a forensic post mortem examination has determined that the cause of death is head injuries.
Detectives have confirmed that Emily had been reported missing to police on Thursday, May 25, and it was reported at the time that she had connections to both Leeds and Bradford. Emily’s family, who are said to be devastated by her loss, are receiving support from specially trained officers and have asked for their privacy to be respected at this difficult time.
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Detective Chief Inspector Andrea Bowell said: “The property at Crofton Avenue, where Emily’s body was found, has undergone painstaking and extensive forensic examination. This is necessary to gather as much evidence as possible to help us understand exactly what happened.
“Emily’s family and friends are understandably devastated by her death. We are carrying out our enquiries with the respect and compassion that Emily and her loved ones deserve, while we work as quickly as we can to identify and locate those responsible for causing her harm. I’d reiterate her family’s desire for privacy as they grieve their tragic loss.
“Now we have been able to establish Emily’s identity, I’d urge anyone who may have information to come forward. Emily was reported missing to police on Thursday 25 May, after she had not been seen or heard from since the previous Friday (19 May).
“We’d therefore be keen to hear from anyone who may be able to tell us more about Emily’s movements since 19 May, whether they saw her or spoke with her, as that information could be incredibly important to our investigation.”
A 40-year-old woman arrested on Wednesday (May 31) on suspicion of assisting offenders has since been bailed pending further enquiries. The force has made a mandatory referral to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).
If you have any information about the incident, you can pass this to the investigation team via the online live chat, online portal or by calling 101, quoting incident number 389 of 30 May 2023. You can access the online portal here: www.southyorks.police.uk/contact-us/report-something/
You can also submit any dashcam, video doorbell or CCTV footage you feel may be helpful to the investigation by emailing it to enquiries@southyorks.pnn.police.uk quoting the incident number in the subject title. If you’d prefer not to speak to police directly you can contact independent charity Crimestoppers either via their UK Contact Centre on freephone 0800 555 111 or by completing a simple, secure form online at www.crimestoppers-uk.org.
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