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Police name woman believed to have been murdered in Little Heath

Maria Jane Rawlings leaves behind two daughters (Credit: Metropolitan Police)

Detectives have named a woman, believed to have been murdered, after her body was found in shrubbery in Little Heath. 

Officers have named her as Maria Jane Rawlings, 45, and a mother of two daughters who lived in the Chelmsford area. 

A man who was walking his dog found her body in Little Heath at around 2pm on Tuesday, 4 May.

A post mortem examination gave her cause of death as neck compression and possible blunt force head trauma.

Maria attended King George Hospital, in Goodmayes, on the evening of Monday, 3 May.

She then left then hospital and made her way on foot to Barley Lane in the direction of the A12.

Detectives believe someone may have approached and attacked her while she walking on this road. 

Officers are continuing to examine the crime scene and will remain in the area in the coming days. 

Anyone with information about the incident should approach those officers or contact police on 020 8345 3865. 

“My team and I are working around the clock, following a number of enquiries in our work to establish what happened to Maria,” said Detective Chief Inspector David Hillier. 

“Her family are understandably distraught and we are doing all we can to help them as they begin to come to terms with their loss.

“I want to hear from anyone who knew Maria and knows about where she had been and who she had been associating with. Have you seen her in the area in the company of another person? Had you recently heard or seen a disturbance or struggle in the area but did not think it significant at the time? You might have dash cam or doorbell footage that could have captured her – please think carefully and, if you can help, contact police.”

Chief Superintendent Stephen Clayman said: “I understand the concerns around safety that will arise from this, particularly from women, and we have increased patrols in the area from our local policing teams.

“Community safety remains a high priority and I urge anyone who has any concerns to speak to my officers when you see them or contact us.”

There have been no arrests and enquiries into the incident are ongoing. 

For more on this story, and the latest on our other local and national news, listen to Time 107.5FM

 

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