Bulimia

METROPOLITAN POLICE SERVICE
Major Investigation Team | Initial Crime Scene Report

Case reference: MIT/26/10487
Classification: Suspicious Death / Suspected Homicide
Location: Penthouse apartment, converted riverside warehouse, Wapping, London E1W
Date of attendance: 9 October 2026
Reporting officer: DS Andrew Mercer
Scene status: Secured. Forensic examination ongoing.

1. Circumstances of discovery

At 14:42 hours, officers attended the above address following concerns raised by the building’s managing agent. The agent reported complaints from residents concerning a party believed to have taken place in the penthouse apartment approximately three nights previously. Repeated attempts to contact the registered occupier had been unsuccessful.

Access to the apartment was obtained using a master key supplied by the managing agent. Officers discovered the body of an unidentified female in the main living area. Ambulance personnel attended and confirmed life extinct at 15:06 hours.

The premises were secured and a forensic examination requested.

2. Description of premises

The property occupies the entire top floor of a former commercial warehouse overlooking the River Thames. It comprises approximately 280 square metres of open-plan accommodation, with exposed brickwork, steel columns, high ceilings and extensive floor-to-ceiling glazing.

The principal living area opens onto a substantial private balcony with uninterrupted views across the river and towards Tower Bridge.

Access is via a passenger lift serving all floors. Entry to the penthouse requires a key-operated control within the lift. The same key is required to activate the lift for departure from the penthouse level. A separate emergency stairwell is present, although its access arrangements have not yet been established.

The apartment is expensively furnished in a contemporary style. Furniture is sparse relative to the available floor area.

The premises contain three bedrooms, two bathrooms, a kitchen and a large reception area.

No immediate signs of forced entry were identified.

3. Description of deceased

The deceased is a white female, estimated age 23–27 years, approximately 165 cm in height, of slim build, with shoulder-length dark blonde hair.

She was discovered naked, lying on her right side on a large pale-coloured rug approximately four metres from the principal windows.

Both wrists were secured behind her back with what appears to be black nylon cord. A black ball gag was present in the mouth, held in position by an adjustable strap passing behind the head.

The word “SLUT” had been written in red lipstick across the upper chest. The lettering was large, uneven and apparently applied directly to the skin. A red lipstick was subsequently located on a low table approximately two metres from the body. Its relationship to the inscription remains to be established.

A pronounced band of bruising and abrasion was visible around the neck, with particular concentration beneath the jaw and towards the left side. The pattern is consistent with compression by a narrow ligature, possibly a garrotte. No corresponding ligature was present around the neck at the time of discovery.

Additional bruising was observed on the upper arms, inner thighs and right hip. The age and cause of these injuries cannot presently be determined.

There were indications of recent sexual activity. Forensic sampling has been requested. No conclusion can presently be drawn as to whether any sexual activity was consensual.

Early post-mortem changes, together with information concerning the last reported activity at the premises, suggest that the deceased may have been dead for at least 48 hours. This remains a provisional estimate pending examination by the forensic pathologist.

4. Condition of scene

The reception area contained evidence of a recent social gathering.

Eleven drinking vessels were identified in various locations, including champagne flutes, tumblers and wine glasses. Several contained residual liquid. Three empty champagne bottles and two partially consumed bottles of spirits were located in the kitchen.

A quantity of cigarette ash was present in a ceramic bowl on the balcony, together with several cigarette ends. The apartment itself did not have a pronounced smell of tobacco.

A portable Bluetooth speaker was found on the kitchen counter. It was connected to a power supply but switched off.

A pair of women’s black high-heeled shoes was found beside the sofa. A small black evening dress was recovered from the floor of the principal bedroom. It has not been established whether these belonged to the deceased.

No handbag, purse, mobile telephone or identification document obviously attributable to the deceased was located during the initial search.

The principal bed appeared to have been used. Bedding was disturbed, and one pillow was found on the floor. The other bedrooms appeared undisturbed.

No obvious evidence of a struggle involving overturned furniture or significant damage was observed in the reception area.

The balcony doors were closed but unlocked.

5. Witness information

Initial enquiries were conducted with occupants of the apartments immediately below the penthouse.

Witness A, female, aged 61, resident of fourth floor:

Reported hearing loud music, laughter and multiple voices from the penthouse on the evening of 6 October, continuing into the early hours of 7 October.

She described the gathering as a party, although she could not estimate the number of attendees. She recalled hearing a woman laughing loudly at approximately 01:00 hours.

She did not report hearing screams, an argument or sounds suggestive of violence.

She stated that she had never met the penthouse occupier despite living in the building for approximately four years.

Witness B, male, aged 43, resident of fourth floor:

Confirmed that the penthouse was seldom occupied, or at least that he rarely observed anybody entering or leaving.

He described occasional gatherings involving music and visitors arriving late in the evening.

He believed the most recent gathering had continued until approximately 03:00 hours, although he had been asleep for part of the period.

He stated that the lift frequently remained at the top floor during such gatherings.

Both witnesses confirmed that the penthouse lift requires a key for access and departure. Neither could identify the occupier or any person attending the gathering.

6. Initial forensic observations

The following items have been identified for priority examination:

• Wrist bindings and ball gag, including potential DNA, fingerprints and trace material.
• Neck injuries, to establish the nature and direction of ligature compression.
• Lipstick inscription and recovered lipstick, including application characteristics and potential trace evidence.
• Drinking vessels, bottles and cigarette ends.
• Bedding and clothing recovered from the principal bedroom.
• Biological samples from the deceased, subject to forensic pathology procedures.
• Lift controls, penthouse door hardware and keys.
• Electronic devices and any available building access or CCTV records.

Particular attention is required to establishing whether the body was moved after death and whether the bindings were applied before or after the fatal injury.

7. Preliminary assessment

The circumstances are strongly suggestive of homicide.

The apparent ligature injury, restraint of the deceased’s hands and absence of an obvious accidental explanation warrant investigation as a deliberate killing.

The presence of the ball gag, nudity, apparent sexual activity and derogatory inscription may indicate a sexual component to the offence. However, it would be premature to conclude that the killing was sexually motivated. The scene may have been deliberately arranged to suggest such a motive.

The gathering reported by neighbours is of immediate investigative significance. It is not presently known whether the deceased attended voluntarily, whether she was acquainted with the occupier, or whether the fatal incident occurred during or after the gathering.

The controlled lift access presents a particular line of enquiry. Persons departing the penthouse by lift would ordinarily require possession of, or access to, the relevant key. The possibility of alternative exits must be established.

The absence of personal effects belonging to the deceased is noteworthy but cannot yet be interpreted.

8. Priority enquiries

• Establish the identity of the deceased through fingerprints, missing-person records and other appropriate means.
• Identify the registered owner, tenant, managing agent and any persons authorised to occupy the apartment.
• Obtain building CCTV, lift records and access-control information where available.
• Establish the number and identities of persons attending the reported gathering.
• Identify all issued penthouse lift keys and determine whether copies have been made.
• Conduct further witness enquiries concerning arrivals, departures, music and any unusual activity between 6 and 9 October.
• Establish the deceased’s movements and communications during the preceding 72 hours.
• Await preliminary forensic pathology findings concerning cause and estimated time of death.

9. Reporting officer’s remarks

The premises are notable for their apparent lack of ordinary domestic occupation. Despite the quality and expense of the furnishings, relatively few personal possessions were visible during the initial examination.

The apartment appears suited to entertaining, with a large open reception area, extensive river views and a degree of separation from the other residents.

The lift arrangement may have afforded the person or persons responsible considerable control over access to and departure from the premises.

The scene contains elements consistent with sexual activity, restraint and deliberate humiliation. Whether these form part of the circumstances of the killing or represent subsequent staging remains unresolved.

The deceased has not been identified. No suspect has been established.

Report submitted for review by the Senior Investigating Officer.

DS Andrew Mercer
Major Investigation Team
Metropolitan Police Service

End of initial report.