Sarah Montgomery: Murder investigation under way after pregnant woman found dead in Co Down
A murder investigation has been launched after a pregnant woman was found dead in Co Down, the Police Service of Northern Ireland has said.
Officers received a report of an unconscious woman with a serious injury inside a house in Elmfield Walk, Donaghadee, on Saturday afternoon.
Police attended the property along with ambulance staff who provided medical treatment to 27-year-old Sarah Montgomery.
But the mother-of-two was pronounced dead at the scene.
A 28-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder and remains in police custody.
Detective Chief Inspector Tom Phillips said Ms Montgomery was confirmed to have been pregnant at the time of her death.
He said: "Enquiries are at an early stage into this deeply tragic case.
"Our thoughts are also with Sarah's family during this incredibly difficult time - as they struggle to come to terms with what has happened.
"Sarah's family are being supported by specially trained officers as the investigation continues."
Chief Inspector Yvonne McManus added: "We understand this news will cause shock and concern within the community. Local people will see our officers in and around the area - with cordons still in place today."
She added: "We recognise the profound impact that violence against women and girls has on individuals, families and wider society."
Anyone who believes they may have information that could help officers is asked to contact police.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
29 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Man, 22, fighting for life after BMW crashes into Piccadilly Circus fountain
A 22-year-old man is fighting for his life after a BMW crashed into a fountain in Piccadilly Circus. The black car overturned and was lying on its roof near the Shaftesbury Memorial Fountain at 5.30am yesterday (June 29). Officers and London Ambulance Service crews attended and found two men, who were in the vehicle, injured. (Image: Lucy North/PA) They were taken to hospital for treatment with one of them in a life-threatening condition. No pedestrians were injured and no other vehicles are thought to be involved, the Metropolitan Police said. Road closures are in place around Piccadilly Circus. The Met said it was called at about 5.30am, with London Ambulance Service paramedics and the London Fire Brigade. A spokesperson for London Ambulance Service said: 'We were called at 5.25am today (29 June) to reports of a road traffic collision on Piccadilly, W1J. 'We sent a number of resources, including ambulance crews, a paramedic in a fast response car, an incident response officer and members of our hazardous area response team (HART). We also dispatched a trauma team in a car from London's Air Ambulance. 'Our first paramedic arrived on scene in less than four minutes. 'We treated two people. We took one patient to a major trauma centre and the other patient to a local hospital.'
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Man arrested on suspicion of murder after woman, 93, found dead
A man, 65, has been arrested on suspicion of murder after a 93-year-old woman was found dead in a Cornish town. Devon and Cornwall Police received a concern for welfare report at an address on Cherrill Gardens, Bude, at about 1pm on Sunday. Officers and paramedics attended and the force said the woman was pronounced dead at the scene. Detectives believe the man arrested and the woman were known to each other. He is from the Bude area and remains in custody, police added. Detective Inspector Rob Smith, senior investigating officer, said: 'We are currently carrying out inquiries to establish what happened in this very sad case. 'A cordon has been set up to allow for a thorough investigation of the scene to take place. 'It is believed that the man and the woman were known to each other. 'The community should be reassured that this is being treated as an isolated incident and at this time we are not seeking anyone else in connection to the death. 'There will be a heightened police presence in the area over the coming days as inquiries are ongoing, and I would encourage anyone, if you have any concerns, to contact officers from the local neighbourhood policing team.' The woman's next of kin have been informed. Witnesses have been asked to contact the police on 101 quoting reference number 50250165800.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Jury retires to decide verdict in Australia's mushroom murder trial
Jury members retired Monday to decide the fate of an Australian woman accused of murdering three members of her husband's family with a toxic mushroom-laced beef Wellington lunch. The 12-person panel has been locked away to decide whether Erin Patterson is guilty or not, beginning their deliberations after a nine-week trial intently followed by a global audience. "You must decide whether any of her statements were untrue," judge Christopher Beale said in his final instructions. "You should consider all of the evidence in the case and draw reasonable conclusions based only on the evidence you accept. "Do not guess." Jurors must reach a unanimous verdict -- guilty or not guilty -- for each of the four charges Patterson faces, Beale said. The 50-year-old is charged with murdering her estranged husband's parents and aunt in July 2023 by spiking their beef-and-pastry meal with death cap mushrooms -- the world's deadliest fungi. She is also accused of attempting to murder a fourth guest -- her husband's uncle -- who survived the classic English dish after a long stay in hospital. The 14-person jury was reduced to 12 by ballot before they started debating a verdict at the court in Morwell, southeast of Melbourne. They will be sequestered at night during the deliberations. Patterson has steadfastly denied all charges against her, saying the poisoning of the beef Wellington -- cooked in individual portions -- was a mistake. The trial has focused in forensic detail on the events surrounding the meal at her property in the farming village of Leongatha in Victoria state. Her lunch guests that afternoon were Don and Gail Patterson, the elderly parents of her long-estranged husband Simon. Places were also set for Simon's maternal aunt Heather and her husband Ian Wilkinson, a well-known pastor at the local Baptist church. - 'Uncomfortable' - Simon was urged to come but he declined on the eve of the fatal lunch because he felt "uncomfortable". Within days of the meal, his parents and aunt had died of organ failure. Of the four guests, only the pastor survived. The prosecution alleges Patterson deliberately foraged for death cap mushrooms and hid them in the meal, intending to kill her lunch guests. She took care not to consume the fatal mushrooms and faked being sick after the lunch in a bid to avoid suspicion, the prosecution says. But Patterson's defence lawyer said it was a "terrible accident" and she never intended to kill or harm anyone. "I didn't deliberately put death cap mushrooms in the meal," Patterson said in her testimony to the court. She only lied to authorities in panic after the lunch, including about the source of the mushrooms, for fear of being held responsible, her defence said. Patterson told police investigating the deaths that she did not own a food dehydrator, allegedly used to prepare the death cap mushrooms. Security footage showed Patterson dumping a dehydrator at a nearby rubbish facility, and forensic tests found trace amounts of death cap mushrooms on the appliance. "I agree that I lied because I was afraid I would be held responsible," Patterson said during the trial. Patterson ate some of the same dish as her guests but did not fall as sick, her defence argued, saying she suffered from an eating disorder and made herself vomit afterwards. djw-sft/hmn