Police are treating the death of an 11-year-old girl whose body was found in a Worcestershire park as unexplained, after she was reported missing at about 23:20 on Sunday night. Detectives found her in a park near the cricket ground at Elmley Castle, close to Evesham, and say inquiries into the circumstances remain ongoing.
West Mercia Police said the girl was reported missing late on Sunday evening and was later located in the park beside the cricket ground. A spokesperson confirmed inquiries were under way into the circumstances surrounding her death, and that the case is being treated as unexplained.
Nearby residents were told by the force that there would be an increased police presence in the area while detectives carry out their work. The girl’s family is being supported by specially trained officers.
A close-knit village
Elmley Castle is a small village roughly four miles from Pershore, with a population of about 500 according to the parish council. The castle that gives the village its name dates back to the 11th Century and sits on the sides of nearby Bredon Hill. The scene of the death is a park close to the cricket ground, in an area more accustomed to summer fixtures than a major police investigation.
District councillor Beverley Hardman said local reaction was one of complete shock. She said people in Elmley Castle do things for the community and that it is a very proud area where residents get on with people and work together. She said the background to the case was not yet known, but that whatever the cause, it would not take the pain away for the family.
Why it matters
Cases involving children are always treated as a distinct category of serious criminal investigation, and an unexplained death always prompts scrutiny of the response as well as the circumstances. Police have not said whether there are any arrests, and the family’s support arrangements are already in place. The increased presence in a village of around 500 residents means a significant policing operation is under way in a close community.
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What happens next
West Mercia Police will continue inquiries and will keep the public updated as the investigation progresses. Officers remain at the scene and residents can expect a continued police presence. Anyone with information is asked to contact the force. The family is being supported by specially trained officers while the case remains open.
This article will be updated as further information becomes available.
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