A woman whose body was found earlier this year in the River Mersey near Chorlton Water Park, Manchester, is still unidentified, prompting local authorities to release a facial reconstruction of her likeness. This reconstruction aims to help identify the woman, whose estimated age and background remain subjects of investigation.
On March 21, 2024, emergency services were alerted by a member of the public who discovered the body. Since then, Greater Manchester Police (GMP) have conducted extensive forensic examinations and DNA testing but have yet to determine her identity. Detective Inspector Louise Edwards from GMP's Major Incident Team stated, "We want nothing more than to reunite her with her family and friends. She could be someone’s mother, auntie, sister, or cousin—somebody out there will know who she is and we want to make sure she gets back to her loved ones." With the release of this new facial reconstruction, the hope is to generate new leads and information about the woman.
The reconstruction was created by Face Lab at Liverpool John Moores University, using forensic analyses to help approximate the woman's physical characteristics. According to police reports, the unidentified woman is described as being from a European background, standing approximately 5 feet 1 inch tall, with dark brown hair and of slim build. She is believed to be between the ages of 26 and 40, though authorities acknowledge she could be either older or younger.
Upon her discovery, she was wearing notable clothing: a neon green strapless crop-top by Primark, black jeans labeled as Jenna from New Look, and dark green anti-slip socks, commonly associated with health and care facilities. A hair bobble and elastic band were also found on her wrist, which might provide more personal insights or links to her identity. Experts from the Miss Duder Development Group have emphasized how wearing such specific items could potentially trigger the recollection of someone who may have known her or seen her recently.
Detective Inspector Edwards went on to highlight the importance of community assistance, urging anyone with any information, no matter how trivial it may seem, to reach out to the police. "Even the smallest detail could help establish who she is and what happened to her," she stated, reinforcing the notion of community engagement as key to piecing together this tragic case.
The investigation suggests the woman might have entered the river from nearby areas, possibly linked to the merging of the River Tame and River Goyt. Authorities believe she may have been submerged for one to two months before being discovered, which raises questions about the circumstances surrounding her death. Currently, her cause of death remains unexplained, and GMP is continuing their analyses to determine more.
Since her body was found, the police have made several appeals for information, including disseminations of details about her clothing and the potential she worked or socialized near Chorlton Water Park. They continue to encourage public awareness of the case, believing someone must hold the key to unraveling this mystery, enabling the deceased woman to be identified and her family informed.
Anyone who may recognize her or have information related to this case is encouraged to contact Greater Manchester Police via the 101 service or utilize the police's Live Chat feature on their official website, quoting log number 1191 from March 21. An immediate outreach capability via their Major Incident Team has been established, utilizing the direct line at 0161 856 9479 for tips, or there is the anonymity of Crimestoppers at 0800 555 111 for individuals wishing to relay information without disclosing their identities. The case remains urgent as authorities continue to piece together who the woman is, and what may have led to her tragic loss.
