Murder investigation update: Man arrested - and body found in Leamington identified

Police searching for a suspected killer after a body was found in Leamington have arrested a man.

And they have also identified the body found yesterday in woodland in Newbold Comyn, Leamington, which has been linked to the other two murders in Coventry.

She has now been formally identified as 31-year-old Nichola McGregor from Leamington.

A manhunt has been underway for 38-year-old Anthony Russell since the bodies of Julia Williams and her son David were found in separate flats in Coventry earlier this week.

Officers on patrol discovered the suspect in a red Ford C-Max car, stolen in a car-jacking in Leamington on Wednesday afternoon, in a country lane in the village of Rolleston-on-Dove, Staffordshire, around 4am.

He has been arrested on suspicion of murder and robbery in relation to the car. He will be questioned later today.

ACC Mark Payne said: “The deaths of three people in the Midlands region this week have been shocking and devastating for the families involved. Our thoughts remain with them as they come to terms with the tragic circumstances of their deaths.

“We are grateful to everyone who has assisted with our appeals for information, but although we have a suspect in custody, our investigation must now establish exactly what has happened.”

We continue to ask for the public for any information to assist our investigation. Please contact us via Live Chat on our website west-midlands.police.uk between 8am and midnight, call 101 anytime or ring Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.