Beaten to death on walk in park
Murder probe over college girl Ellen, 18
A TEENAGER was murdered in a park while she walked home from college.
Police said the girl, named locally as Ellen Higginbottom, 18, suffered a “horrific” attack that left her with severe head injuries.
Ellen’s family reported her missing when she failed to return home and the body was found on the edge of a field at 2.30am yesterday after officers searched through the night.
Detectives have not ruled out a sexual motive and are unsure how many people may have been involved in the attack.
They are also probing claims that two other women were followed at Orrell Water Park in Wigan, Greater Manchester, by two men last Thursday. Detective Superintendent Howard Millington said: “This was a brutal attack on a young woman. We have a full investigation team working on finding out what exactly happened to her and to try and find the person who did this.
“During our preliminary investigations we have come across a report of two young women being followed by two men in the area on Thursday 15 June.
“We are keeping an open mind about this, however we would like to hear from anyone who may have any information about any recent incidents of this nature.
“This very much an ongoing investigation, we will leave no stone unturned and myself and my team will not stop until we have found out exactly what happened and have brought whoever did this, to justice.”
Ellen’s pals launched an appeal on Twitter and Facebook to try to find her when she disappeared after leaving nearby Winstanley College. Friend Lois Robinson wrote before the body was found: “Her friends and family are very worried. If you have any info please let us know.”
After the grim discovery, the college tweeted: “Winstanley College students please stay safe when walking to and from college, don’t go alone especially around Orrell Water Park.”
Det Supt Millington added: “We are taking measures to see if there is a link between the person reported missing and, indeed sadly, the person we discovered in the early hours of this morning.
“What I would say is the family of the person who has been reported missing is being supported by specially trained family liaison officers.”