Do YOU hold the key to solving the Wembley Point Woman case? Police reveal new evidence in mystery death of woman who plunged from high-rise building 20 years ago
Investigators are today appealing for help to identify a mystery woman who plunged to her death from a high-rise building 20 years ago.
Investigators are today appealing for help to identify a mystery woman who plunged to her death from a high-rise building 20 years ago.
The 5ft 2in black woman, aged between 20 and 40, fell 21 floors from Wembley Point, an office block in west London, on October 29, 2004.
She was found with just a few belongings: £5.20 in cash, an oil painting, a seven-day bus pass, and a copy of the Guardian newspaper.
The woman was wearing a maroon bomber zip-up jacket, a black leather glove on her right hand, a thin black polo neck jumper and claret crew neck jumper.
She also wore tights, trousers, black Sketchers boots, a silver watch and had two rings: a silver band on her little finger and a metal conch shell ring on her ring finger.
Investigators are today appealing for help to identify a mystery woman who plunged to her death in Wembley from a high-rise building 20 years ago
The woman was wearing a silver watch and two rings: a silver band on her little finger and a cowrie shell ring on her ring finger - often associated with fertility, or a desire to be a mother
For two decades, she has remained unidentified despite numerous appeals - and is known only as Wembley Point Woman.
Volunteers at Locate International (LI), a charity that looks into cold cases of missing and unidentified people, have opened more than 100 new lines of enquiry over the years.
But they are still appealing for help - and said every tip, no matter how small, could be the key to returning her name to her.
Newly uncovered evidence includes a man who spoke to her on the day of her death, who claims she was distressed over her boyfriends health - suggesting she was in a relationship.
In addition, she was found wearing a cowrie shell ring which is often associated with fertility, or a desire to be a mother - perhaps hinting to the struggles she was experiencing in her personal life.
In terms of why she was at the office, witnesses say she walked confidently through the building, suggesting familiarity with it, so it is possible that she had a job there.
Locals have suggested she may have worked as a cleaner or contractor, possibly out of regular sight of other office workers.
Public tips have raised the possibility that she was connected to arts or community centres near Seven Sisters, specifically Chestnuts Arts & Community Centre.
The woman fell from Wembley Point, an office block in west London, on October 29, 2004
The woman was holding this distinctive oil painting when she fell to her death
The idea that she may have been part of a local cultural group - perhaps one supporting asylum seekers from West Africa - has come up multiple times, investigators said.
It is also now thought that the newspaper was provided by Cafe 21, which was situated within Wembley Point.
The seven-day bus pass suggests this was a regular route for her, and a route that she had at one point planned to take again, with another two days left on the pass.
It was issued at 7.03am on October 26, 2004 and purchased from a very small newsagent located at 223 Seven Sisters Road.
Volunteer investigators spoke with a translator who had worked with a woman that closely matched the description, but this proved to not be the victim.
Angela Watts, who leads the team investigating Wembley Point Womans identity, said: One tip from a person who translates for victims of trafficking and exploitation was of particular interest to us.
The translator said that the image of Wembley Point Woman reminded her so much of someone she had supported.
Other details, such as the fact that the woman smoked and took pride in her appearance resonated with what we know of Wembley Point Woman.
The interpreter had befriended the woman and sometimes called at her lodgings and remembered that she had artwork on the walls.
We followed this lead, but finally were able to confirm that the woman had returned to her home country so could not have been Wembley Point Woman.
An LI statement added: The progress we have made in this investigation demonstrates the importance of public contact - we therefore encourage anyone to come forward, no matter how seemingly small the information.
Ruling an individual out is still progress - it is still a step forward, a step closer.
Weve made significant steps forward and now more than ever we believe the final pieces to this puzzle are within reach.
Every tip, no matter how small, could be the key to returning her name to her.
For confidential support, call the Samaritans on 116 123 or go to www.samaritans.org
