Man held after teen is found dead at her home
A MAN has been arrested on suspicion of murdering a teenager.
The body of Shana Grice was found at her flat after she failed to turn up for work.
A post-mortem examination was being carried out last night to try to establish how the 19year-old died.
Neighbours said police and fire engines were called to her home in Brighton on Thursday afternoon. one man had been trying to get inside to rescue Miss Grice.
‘he said he heard a lot of shouting,’ a resident said. ‘They broke in and there was smoke inside the property.
‘he could see somebody in one of the bedrooms but he could see she had died.’
Miss Grice’s boyfriend Ashley Cooke, 21, yesterday said he had last seen her at 7am on the day of her death.
The self-employed kitchen fitter added: ‘I start work early and I have to leave hers at 7am in the morning to get ready.
‘She was awake and came to the door, we had a kiss and a cuddle and said goodbye, and then she locked the door after I left.
‘As soon as I knew something wasn’t right I knew I had to try to find her. I jumped in my van and rushed back to hers as fast as I could.
‘She was a really kind girl, and she cared about everyone. I don’t know why anyone would do this to her because she looked after everyone. everyone loved her.’
her parents – Sharon Grice and richard Green of hove in east Sussex – said in a statement last night: ‘Shana is our beautiful girl, a kind, thoughtful, caring daughter who always thought of others. We would like to thank Ashley and his family for their support. We would also like to thank everyone for their beautiful kind words.’
Sussex Police said that the Independent Police Complaints Commission – the watchdog which investigates police conduct – has been notified. officers had previously been in contact with Miss Grice and ‘other people’, the force said.
A Sussex Police spokesman said last night: ‘A 27-year old man arrested on Thursday on suspicion of murder is still in custody for interview and further inquiries.
‘Magistrates at Brighton have granted a warrant authorising his continued detention if necessary until Sunday 28 August.
‘As previously announced, the death has been notified to the IPCC owing to there having been previous police contact with the deceased and other people. her family have been informed of this development. We await the IPCC’s decision as to how any internal investigation will be conducted.’
Miss Grice and Mr Cooke, who had been together for threeand-a-half years, had planned to start a family next year.
She worked in the accounts department for delivery wholesaler Palmer and harvey.
‘Kind and caring daughter’