Killer may be using dating app to find victims, say police

DETECTIVES have warned of a suspected murderer targeting victims through a dating app after the killing of one man was linked to the drugging, robbery and rape of another.

The body of Adrian Murphy, 43, was found at a luxury apartment in Battersea, south London, last week. It is believed he had met a man using a dating app such as Grindr.

Tests failed to establish the cause of Mr Murphy’s death, but police say property was stolen. It is understood the body of Mr Murphy, who lived elsewhere in South London and was housesitting the Battersea apartment, may have remained undiscovered for three days. He was born in Ireland, and worked in London as a dancer and instructor specialising in Irish dance.

Detectives are now linking his death to the rape and robbery of a 40-yearold man who had invited a man he had met online to his flat in Walthamstow, east London, five days earlier. The victim claims he was drugged before being assaulted and awoke to discover his home had been ransacked and valuable items stolen. Now police are urging any other victims of the attacker who have failed to come forward to contact them.

A 24-year-old man and 17-year-old female have been arrested on suspicion of murder and theft before being released on bail.

Det Chief Insp Rob Pack, who is leading the investigation, said: “We know the victim in the Walthamstow incident met the male suspect through a social networking site and we are investigating whether there is a similar connection in Mr Murphy’s death.

“Both incidents happened over a short period of time and thorough enquiries have led us to make these prompt arrests. However, there is a possibility other offences may have been committed.”

Mr Murphy’s brother, Robert, yesterday wrote on social media how it was “hard to fathom” why his brother had “gone before his time”.