An elderly woman found dead in a bin bag in Stanley Park, Liverpool, was malnourished and suffered from osteoporosis, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), and arthritis, authorities have stated. Police were called to the park on August 28 at approximately 5:25 p.m. after a member of the public discovered a black bin bag containing the woman's remains in the bushes of the walled garden. It is believed her body had been at the location since July.
Despite extensive public appeals and forensic testing, police have been unable to identify the woman, who is thought to be around 70 years old, approximately 5 feet 2 inches tall, and of slight build. A DNA profile generated no matches on the national database, and the absence of teeth made dental record comparison impossible.
Senior Investigating Officer Detective Chief Inspector John Fitzgerald expressed hope that detailing the woman's medical conditions would assist in her identification. "Whilst we believe the woman to be aged around 70 we have not ruled out that she could be slightly younger or older and we would ask that people take that into consideration," Fitzgerald said.
Merseyside Police have interviewed occupants of nearly 900 nearby properties and have eliminated 126 potential matches from their inquiries. The force is continuing its investigation to establish the circumstances surrounding the woman's death and identify her.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Merseyside Police on social media at @MerPolCC, via their website, or by calling 101, quoting reference number 26000706383. A dedicated Public Portal has also been established for individuals to submit images or footage directly to the investigation team. Anonymous tips can also be provided to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.