Charlemont police probe: Woman found dead in West Bromwich flat
A woman has been found dead in a West Bromwich flat by police leading a missing person inquiry.
Police today said they were treating her death as 'unexplained' as forensic officers sealed off the home.
The flat in Wyndmill Crescent, on the Charlemont estate, was cordoned off following the discovery at around 2pm.
A forensic post mortem examination is due to take place on Wednesday to determine the cause of death, say West Midlands Police.
People took to Facebook to say police have been at the house since the early hours.
The street is just off Beaconview Road which is a well-known route through the estate.
The front door to the property was ripped from its hinges and left perched against the wall outside while officers came back and forth today.
Detective Inspector Warren Hines, said: “The lady’s death is being treated as unexplained but it’s hoped the post mortem will soon be able to shed some light on what happened.
“It is not yet clear how long the body was there before being discovered and we are yet to make a formal identification of the woman.
“Officers forced entry to the address in the early hours of this morning as part of a missing person enquiry.”
By 1pm officers had erected a police tent and blue sheet at the top of the stairs to the property.
Four police vans were parked in the road while officers conducted searches.
A nearby resident, who wished to stay anonymous, said: “I’ve not known anything like this around here before.
“The police have told us not to be worrying about it, so that’s what I’m trying to do.
“It’s not nice to have something big happen so close, but I’m not thinking about it too much.”
Another neighbour said a couple lived in the property but that they hadn’t been seen for several days.
The 24-year-old said: “I spoke to him outside the shops around three days ago but I haven’t seen him since, I’ve been trying to ring him but there’s no answer.
“I know his cousins, I hang around with them all but not him.
"If I see him, I speak to him, but I haven’t seen him for a couple of days."
Officers have carried out house-to-house enquiries in the location.
West Midlands Police has referred the incident to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) as is standard procedure in missing people inquiries.
Anyone with information is asked to call Det Insp Hines at West Midlands Police on 101 quoting log number 2008 from 26/12.
Reporter Liam Keen followed developments in Wyndmill Crescent:
