The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Mystery surrounds grim roadside body discovery
Rural road closed off by police as news leaves locals shocked
A rural community is anxiously awaiting answers following the unexplained death of a woman on a Perthshire road.
Officers descended on the B8062 from Auchterarder to Dunning on Thursday following the discovery of the woman’s body in a wooded area at the roadside.
Police are treating the death as unexplained and inquiries remain at an early stage while efforts to identify the woman continue.
It is understood CID officers returned to the scene yesterday to carry out further investigations.
A local resident, who asked not to be named, said he saw police rushing to the scene shortly after midday on Thursday.
“I was leaving my house at the Dunning end of Auchterarder at 12.20pm to go to an appointment and a police van went flying down Abbey Road, which is on the way to the incident,” he said.
“They were going fast. I went out for a cycle just after 4pm and the roads had been closed off with cones, signs and tape.”
The back road has remained blocked since and local residents have been told it could remain shut for most of the weekend.
A police source confirmed they expect motorists will be unable to use the B8062 “for the foreseeable future” but was not able to give any specifics.
The route, located in a popular area for dog walkers and cyclists, was blocked off for more than two miles from the Islabank junction to the turning for Aberuthven, past Rossiebank Farm.
Officers remained stationed at every entrance yesterday.
A local farmer said the community had been rocked by the news and were anxiously awaiting updates from police.
“It’s awful. No one I’ve spoken to knows who the woman is but it has been the talk of the area,” he said.
“I went into the local shop earlier and everyone I met asked me about it. It’s very sad.”
Detective Superintendent Jim Smith of the major investigation team said:
It’s awful... it has been the talk of the area
“Inquiries are still at an early stage and it is vital that we establish the full circumstances which has led to this woman tragically losing her life.
“I would appeal to anyone who saw anything suspicious on this stretch of road in the preceding days to please come forward. Also, I would appeal to anyone who has travelled that stretch of road, or the surrounding area who has dashcam footage, to please get in touch with the police.”