Police renew appeal to identify woman found dead in a bin bag in Stanley Park

Merseyside Police have renewed their appeal for help identifying a woman whose body was found in a black bin bag in Stanley Park, Anfield.

A member of the public contacted police at around 5.25pm on Friday, 28 August, after being in the park. Officers attended and found the body in the area of the walled garden.

A postmortem examination was carried out on Saturday, 29 August. Police have withheld the result for investigative reasons.

Detective Superintendent Rachel Wilson, the senior investigating officer, said officers had carried out extensive enquiries but had not yet identified the woman. Police believe her body may have been in the bag at the location for several weeks.

House-to-house enquiries, CCTV checks and forensic work are continuing. Officers have also checked missing-person reports from Merseyside and elsewhere, but these have not so far led to an identification.

Police believe the woman was in her 70s. She was white, around 5ft 2in tall and of small build, with strawberry blonde hair. She was wearing a cerise pink Nike T-shirt, and police have released an image of a similar top.

Police are asking anyone with a neighbour, friend or relative in the area who has not been seen or heard from for several weeks to consider whether the description could be relevant. They are also appealing to anyone who visited the walled garden in recent weeks, including walkers and dog walkers, who may have seen or heard something suspicious.

Assistant Chief Constable Andy Ryan said Stanley Park, which separates Anfield and Goodison football stadiums, is a busy public space used by families, dog walkers and people exercising. He urged anyone with CCTV, dashcam or doorbell footage to contact police, even if they initially thought what they saw was unimportant.

A mobile police station has been set up in the park, alongside additional patrols and neighbourhood policing activity.

Information can be passed to Merseyside Police via the social media desk, @MerPolCC, on Facebook or X, through the force website or by calling 101, quoting reference 26000706383. Footage and images can also be submitted through the force’s Major Incident Public Portal.

Information can be given anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.