Suffolk Police today (Tuesday, 12 December) launched a third murder enquiry, following the discovery of a woman’s body in Nacton on Sunday.
Detectives have confirmed that the murdered woman is 24-year-old Anneli Alderton from Colchester and have appealed for anyone who may have seen her shortly before her death to come forward.
Anneli’s naked body was spotted in woodland near Nacton by a passing motorist at about 3:20pm on Sunday, 10 December. The area was immediately cordoned off as an enquiry got underway.
The body was removed from the site yesterday afternoon (Monday, 11 December) and taken to Ipswich Hospital. A post mortem examination, carried out by Home Office pathologist Nat Carey last night, revealed the cause of death was asphyxiation.
Further tests are being carried out to try to discover more exact details about how Anneli died. At this stage, it is not known if she had been sexually assaulted, so further tests are also being carried out to establish whether Anneli was sexually assaulted.
Detective Chief Superintendent Stewart Gull said today: “As a result of the information from the post mortem, we are now launching a third murder enquiry. Although there are obvious similarities to the murders of Gemma and Tania, we need to carry out further work to establish whether these deaths are linked.”
Initial police enquiries have revealed that Anneli caught the 5.53pm train from Harwich to Colchester on Sunday, 3 December. There are no known sightings of her alive since then.
A passing motorist believes he saw the body in situ at about 10.30am on Thursday, 7 December. However, he thought it was an abandoned mannequin and did not report it to police.
“It is important that we try to piece together Anneli’s final movements. We know that, like Gemma and Tania, she did work as a prostitute in Ipswich. However, unlike them, she had not been reported missing,” said Det-Chief-Supt Gull.
“It is essential we trace anyone who may have seen Anneli in the week between Sunday, 3 December, and Sunday, 10 December. Specifically, we want to hear from anyone who saw her between Sunday, 3 December, and Thursday, 7 December.”
“I would also ask people, particularly clients, to look at Anneli’s photograph and, if you saw her recently, please give us a call. This extra information could be crucial to this investigation.”
Overnight, police have received 450 calls from members of the public, as a result of the widespread media coverage of the cases. About 25 calls have also been taken on the special line set up for use by prostitutes working in Suffolk (07764 210572),
This information will now be examined to see if it takes the enquiry forward.
“I have been very pleased with the response to our appeals so far. I would ask anyone with information to come forward to the police as a matter of urgency.”
Anyone with information on any of these incidents can:
Contact the Telephone Hotline on 0800 0961011
Ring Crimestopper in confidence on freephone 0800 555 111
Report information on-line at www.suffolk.police.uk
E-mail incident.room@suffolk.pnn.police.uk
Text 07624 888999.
In relation to the two missing women, who we alerted you to yesterday, they are still missing at this time.
We now know that Annette Nicholls, aged 29, was last seen at 9:50pm on Tuesday, December 5, in Norwich Road Ipswich.
She was reported missing today by her family who became concerned after seeing the publicity surrounding the murders of Gemma Adams and Tania Nicol.
Annette is described as white, about 5ft 3ins tall, of slim build, with shoulder length brown wavy hair.
Officers are still making enquiries in an effort to trace Paula Clennell.
Paula, aged 24, was last seen at 1am in Rendlesham Court, Ipswich, on Sunday, December 10.
She is described as white, about 5ft 7ins tall, of medium build with shoulder length mousey hair, blue eyes and a spotty complexion.
Det Chief Supt Gull added: “”Both of these girls were reported missing as a result of the publicity generated by the enquiries in to the murders of Gamma Adams and Tania Nicol.
“And, as we have said, in the current climate, we are concerned for their welfare and are making urgent enquiries to locate them.”
“I would ask either the girls themselves or anyone with information as to their whereabouts to contact police immediately.”
