Missing Carole Waugh: Police Find Body

Detectives investigating the disappearance of missing oil executive Carole Waugh discover a woman's body in a garage in London.



Detectives said a woman's body was found in the garage in Lime Court, New Malden, on Thursday night.

Ms Waugh, 50, an oil executive originally from Durham, has not been seen since mid-April.

Sky's crime correspondent Martin Brunt said: "Police haven't said it's her, but I think that announcement tells us all we really need to know. Surely her family have been told by police to expect the worst."

Earlier this week a 47-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of kidnap and conspiracy to defraud and subsequently on suspicion of murder.

The suspect is in custody at a south London police station.

The lock-up is in a row of garages behind two detached 1930s houses in a quiet street. The driveway leading to the garages was cordoned off this morning and a police community support officer stood guard.

A white and a blue forensic tent has been erected outside one of the garages at the end of the row.

The body was taken to Kingston mortuary and a post-mortem examination will take place later on Friday.

One resident told Sky News the lock-up may not be owned by locals.

"No-one ever seems to know who owns lock-ups like this. Sometimes they’re long-term lets and sometimes they’re short-term," said the woman, who lives in a property overlooking the garages.

She said the she is shocked that a body has been found in her area.

"It’s a sleepy suburb; no-one expects something like this to be going on almost outside their back garden… It’s a bit scary really."

Matt Elcox, 17, who lives in a house backing on to the area, said: "I was woken by the sound of police cars coming and going late Thursday night.

"I looked out of the window but thought it was just a stolen car or something like that, so went back to bed.

"It is surprising because you don't see much activity around the garages and certainly nothing suspicious."

One man who has worked nearby for about five years said the garages were mainly used for storage by builders.

He said: "There have been some small problems with stolen goods being stored but certainly no major crime."

Ms Waugh, of Harrowby Street, central London, was reported missing by her family on May 7 and had never gone missing before.

The last believed sighting of her was thought to be in central London three days earlier, but this was unconfirmed.

Concerns for Ms Waugh's safety grew after a fraudster tried to sell her central London flat by posing as her brother.

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

Detectives said Ms Waugh, who previously lived in Libya, met men through a variety of internet sites, including dating websites.

Police were also investigating the possibility that she might have been an escort.

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

Earlier this week police released new pictures of Ms Waugh as well as images of items of Cartier jewellery, identical to that she wore, which were among items missing from her personal possessions.