Missing woman’s body found year after man held on murder charge
DETECTIVES searching for the remains of a 70-year-old woman who vanished more than a year ago discovered them in a churchyard near her home.
Norma Girolami, 70, from Highgate, was last seen alive in August 2021, when she vanished from her £900,000 home in a tree-lined street.
She had just returned from a trip to the seaside when she went missing and a murder investigation was launched in October 2021.
That same month, Serkan Kaygusuz, 42, from Islington, was charged with her murder and remanded in custody, and his trial is currently listed for Feb 6 next year.
However, yesterday afternoon, detectives from the Metropolitan Police confirmed that they had recovered her remains after searching the grounds of St Katherine’s Greek Orthodox Church in North Finchley, Barnet, just four miles away from her home.
It is not known whether she was found in a grave and officers declined to reveal any further information due to the ongoing investigation. Her remains are to undergo forensic examination and the police force said that her family has been notified of the discovery.
Det Ch Insp Kate Blackburn said there was “a sense of relief” that Ms Girolami had been found, but that her team was still seeking information about what happened to her.
The Met said Ms Girolami liked to visit Leigh-on-sea in Essex, and made a trip there on Aug 19 last year.
She took the train from Barking and returned to London later that day. All communication from Ms Girolami stopped that evening. She disappeared without saying goodbye to her loved ones and there was food left in her fridge.
Police had previously searched several addresses before discovering her body at the churchyard.
Det Ch Insp Blackburn said the investigation into her disappearance is ongoing and urged anyone with information to contact police.
She said: “Despite accepting that Norma was no longer alive, I know that her family are deeply affected by the news that her remains have been found. Our thoughts are very much with them.
“My team has spent more than a year searching for Norma and there is a sense of relief that we have found her remains, which will undergo forensic examination in due course.
“Despite this discovery, I would still be very keen to hear from anyone who knew Norma, either in London or at Leigh-on-sea, who can provide information on anything that was happening in her life in August last year.
“I am also appealing for anyone who saw any activity around the churchyard
‘Norma’s family has endured a year of not knowing what happened to her and our investigation continues’
in Friern Barnet Lane, N20, between August and October last year.
“Norma’s family and friends have endured a year of not knowing what had happened to her and our investigation remains ongoing.
“If you have any information, no matter how small a detail it may seem, please do get in touch.” A £20,000 reward for information related to Ms Girolami’s disappearance was announced by police just weeks ago.
After her disappearance, her cousin, Jack Girolami, 67, told the Evening Standard how alarm bells started ringing after she had not responded to a text message in August. He said at the time: “We are worried sick, this is totally out of character for Norma. We thought she may have gone to Italy where the family are from to spread her dad’s ashes but we don’t think that is the case now.
“She was very comfortably off, wealthy, but not mega rich. She sold a house in Highgate and inherited her dad’s house in Enfield.
“She was also a bit gullible and was trusting in people which is a bit worrying.”
The average house price in the leafy suburb where Ms Girolami lived, near the Highgate Cemetery, is £890,000.