MAN, 47, QUIZZED OVER TEENAGE GIRL’S MURDER
Grandad: ‘Our angel was killed by animal’
A MAN has been arrested on suspicion of murdering a teenager found dead in a country park.
Talented singer Ellen Higginbottom, 18, died from multiple neck injuries.
A 47-year-old man was arrested yesterday and was last night in custody for questioning over the killing.
Ellen’s grandad, Derek Goldstraw, said: “Whoever’s done this is an animal… We’re all so heartbroken – our angel has been taken from us.
“She was such a happy and beautiful girl who lit up our lives.”
He added: “I can’t stop crying. I used to take her for a walk in that park when she was a little girl.
“When I think of her now, the tears come in floods. I’m devastated.”
A-level pupil Ellen, who hoped to become a doctor, disappeared after leaving college on Friday. Her parents, headteacher Kay, and IT expert Mike, both 48, raised the alarm at 7.20pm.
Police found Ellen’s body at the edge of a field in Orrell Water Park in Lancashire in the early hours of Saturday.
The arrested man is from nearby Wigan. Officers have not ruled out a sexual motive for the attack.
It is thought a blade was used to kill the keen horse rider from Worsley, Greater Manchester. A search team looking for a weapon scoured a lake in the cordoned off park yesterday.
The nature reserve is less than half a mile from the college.
Police are probing reports of young women being followed by two men near the park the day before Ellen vanished.
Her boyfriend Ryan Warren, 18, said on Facebook last night: “Thank you all for everyone’s kind messages… We are all still just processing and dealing with the tragedy.”
The couple, both students at Winstanley College in Wigan, were in a band. Ellen was the singer, with Ryan on drums.
He joined the search for her on Friday.
Friends have left flowers at the park entrance. One tribute said: “You were the loveliest person on earth… Keep on singing.” Det Supt Howard Millington, from Greater Manchester Police, said: “This is an absolute tragedy.”
He said Ellen’s family and friends must be going through “unimaginable” pain.
Grandad Derek, of Stoke-on-Trent, Staffs, said Ellen’s mum, Kay, is suffering from ill health. He said: “She’ll be in bits.”
The college described Ellen as a “wonderful young woman”.