Latest news with #YajairaCastroMendez
The Independent
17 hours ago
- The Independent
Body found by police confirmed to be missing Colombian woman
Police have confirmed that a body found over the weekend is that of a Colombian woman who disappeared after leaving her east London home. Yajaira Castro Mendez, 46, was reported missing to the Metropolitan Police on May 31, having left her home in Ilford on the morning of May 29. An investigation was launched and 51-year-old Juan Francisco Toledo, of Lambeth, south London, was arrested on June 4 and subsequently charged with murder. Police conducted a search for Ms Castro Mendez and found a body in the Bolderwood area of Hampshire on Saturday, which has now been formally identified as her. Acting Detective Chief Inspector Sean Beasley said: 'This is a very sad development in the investigation and our thoughts are very much with Yajaira's family and friends at this incredibly difficult time. 'Officers have been working around the clock and continue to investigate the circumstances. 'There are still crime scenes in place and we're working closely with Hampshire Police. We thank the community for their patience as we carry out our investigation and we continue to appeal to anyone with information that could assist the investigation to please come forward.' Francisco Toledo, who police have said was known to the victim, was remanded in custody after appearing at Barkingside Magistrates' Court on June 6 to attend the Old Bailey on Tuesday. Ms Castro Mendez's disappearance was initially treated as a missing person investigation led by local officers but the investigation was transferred to the Met's Specialist Crime Command on June 5, after a range of extensive further inquiries suggested she had come to harm.
Daily Mirror
17 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Cops confirm body of missing London woman has been found miles from home
Police have confirmed that a body found over the weekend is that of a Colombian woman who disappeared after leaving her east London home. Yajaira Castro Mendez, 46, was reported missing to the Metropolitan Police on May 31, having left her home in Ilford on the morning of May 29. An investigation was launched and 51-year-old Juan Francisco Toledo, of Lambeth, south London, was arrested on June 4 and subsequently charged with murder. Police conducted a search for Ms Castro Mendez and found a body in the Bolderwood area of Hampshire on Saturday, which has now been formally identified as her. Acting Detective Chief Inspector Sean Beasley said: "This is a very sad development in the investigation and our thoughts are very much with Yajaira's family and friends at this incredibly difficult time. "Officers have been working around the clock and continue to investigate the circumstances. There are still crime scenes in place and we're working closely with Hampshire Police. We thank the community for their patience as we carry out our investigation and we continue to appeal to anyone with information that could assist the investigation to please come forward."
Yahoo
18 hours ago
- Yahoo
Body found by police confirmed to be missing Colombian woman
Police have confirmed that a body found over the weekend is that of a Colombian woman who disappeared after leaving her east London home. Yajaira Castro Mendez, 46, was reported missing to the Metropolitan Police on May 31, having left her home in Ilford on the morning of May 29. An investigation was launched and 51-year-old Juan Francisco Toledo, of Lambeth, south London, was arrested on June 4 and subsequently charged with murder. Police conducted a search for Ms Castro Mendez and found a body in the Bolderwood area of Hampshire on Saturday, which has now been formally identified as her. Acting Detective Chief Inspector Sean Beasley said: 'This is a very sad development in the investigation and our thoughts are very much with Yajaira's family and friends at this incredibly difficult time. 'Officers have been working around the clock and continue to investigate the circumstances. 'There are still crime scenes in place and we're working closely with Hampshire Police. We thank the community for their patience as we carry out our investigation and we continue to appeal to anyone with information that could assist the investigation to please come forward.' Francisco Toledo, who police have said was known to the victim, was remanded in custody after appearing at Barkingside Magistrates' Court on June 6 to attend the Old Bailey on Tuesday. Ms Castro Mendez's disappearance was initially treated as a missing person investigation led by local officers but the investigation was transferred to the Met's Specialist Crime Command on June 5, after a range of extensive further inquiries suggested she had come to harm. People are urged to contact police via 101 or @MetCC quoting CAD 3020/06JUN2, or anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or the charity's website.
BBC News
a day ago
- BBC News
A31 Bolderwood lane closure as murder investigation continues
A stretch of the A31 through the New Forest is still closed as police continue a murder investigation following the discovery of the body of a missing 46-year-old Castro Mendez disappeared having left her home in Ilford on 29 May. She was reported missing to the Metropolitan Police on 31 closures have been in place since her body was found in the Bolderwood area on Saturday - one lane is shut westbound between the M27 and the Friday Juan Toledo, 51, from south-east London, appeared at Barkingside Magistrates' Court charged with her murder and was remanded into custody. The Metropolitan Police said the family of Ms Castro Mendez had been told about the discovery of the body found during searches by officers in the forest on identification has yet to be made and a post-mortem examination has yet to take with information about Ms Castro Mendez's death is urged to contact police. You can follow BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Part of A31 closed westbound amid murder probe after body found
A STRETCH of the A31 through the New Forest has been closed westbound as police continue an investigation following the discovery of a woman's body. As previously reported, Yajaira Castro Mendez, 46, was reported missing to the Metropolitan Police on May 31 having left her home in Ilford on the morning of May 29. Since that time detectives said they been carrying out urgent enquiries to find Yajaira's body and during searches in the Bolderwood area on Saturday, 7 June they found a body. The #A31 westbound between the #M27 and #A338 near #Ringwood has closed due to a @HantsPolice incident. On approach to the closure, there are delays of 30 minutes and congestion of approx. 4 miles. More info, inc diversion, found here: — National Highways: South-East (@HighwaysSEAST) June 8, 2025 Now the stretch of road has been closed and is expected to remain in place for around three hours. Posting on social media, National Highways said: The A31 in Hampshire is closed westbound between the M27 Cadnam Interchange and the A338 near Ringwood following a Hampshire Police-led incident that occurred on Saturday 7 June 2025.' The diversion route: Exit the M27 at J2 Take the A326 southbound At the junction with the A35 near Colbury exit the A326 and turn right Take the A35 westbound and remain on this road towards Bournemouth passing through Lyndhurst, Allum Green, Holmsley, Hinton Admiral. At the Somerford Roundabout in Christchurch take the third exit to remain on the A35 Follow the A35 through Christchurch to the Ilford Roundabout with the A3060 Take the third exit on to the A3060 and follow this road to the Cooper Dean Roundabout with the A338 Take the third exit from the roundabout on to the A338 Remain on the A338 to the Ashley Heath Roundabout with the A31 Take the first exit for the A31 westbound towards (traffic for Ringwood take the third exit to join the A31 eastbound) Read more LIVE: Traffic on A31 for second day after woman's body found nearby Woman's body found near A31 amid murder probe - what we know so far Woman's body found by A31 following murder investigation National Highways said: 'If this closure impacts on your planned route, please allow extra journey time.' Traffic was held on the A31 between Stoney Cross and Picket Post for more than 45 minutes on Saturday evening, with some motorists getting out of their cars and making U-turns on the westbound carriageway of the A31. The traffic stretched back several miles towards the M27 at Cadnam. A lane closure remained in place on Sunday before the stretch was closed westbound.
