Mystery surrounds the death of a 24-year-old woman found dead in a car boot in London almost 100 miles away from her home.
The body of Harshita Brella was found in the back of a vehicle on Brisbane Road, Ilford, after being killed by someone the police believe was ‘known to her’.
Alarms were raised on Wednesday when Northamptonshire Police received a call regarding concerns over Harshita’s welfare.
Officer were sent round to her home address on Skegness Walk, Corby, but received no answer at the door.
A missing person investigation was launched and after enquiries were fast-tracked she was found on Brisbane road, Ilford on Thursday – some 95.7 miles away from the share house she lived in.
One local told MailOnline: ‘They seemed to be focusing on a car. It’s horrific. It’s quite an unsafe area. That poor woman must have gone through hell.
‘It’s deeply shocking. I’ve felt sick. She must have gone through so much pain.’
Harshita Brella was reported missing on November 13 by the authorities after Northamptonshire Police conducted a welfare check at her home in Skegness Walk, Corby and got no answer
The body of the woman was found in the boot of a car on Brisbane Road, pictured, in Ilford
Harshita’s body was discovered nearly 100 miles from her home in Northmaptonshire
They continued: ‘Officers swarmed all over the street and were here for hours. It looked incredibly serious.
‘There was screaming on the street earlier in the week. It’s rough around here so I didn’t bat an eye lid. There’s always drug dealing and attacks and all sorts.’
A forensic postmortem examination, which took place at Leicester Royal Infirmary yesterday, confirmed that Harshita had been murdered, but no arrests have yet been made.
Meanwhile a neighbour at Harshita’s home in Corby told the Northampton Chronicle that the house the young woman lived in had been used as an HMO (house in multiple occupation), and at one point last year had 12 people living in it.
The number of occupants has since reduced and the neighbour said she believed that the house had Bulgarian, Moldovan and Portuguese residents.
The property had been largely peaceful since some noise complaints were resolved last year, the neighbour added.
Brisbane Road in Ilford, east London. A forensic postmortem examination, which took place at Leicester Royal Infirmary yesterday, confirmed that Harshita had been murdered
A murder investigation is ongoing after the 24-year-old’s body was found in a car boot near the entrance of Valentines Park in Ilford, East London
A general view of Skegness Walk in Corby where Harshita Brella lived in a house share
But earlier this week she heard a commotion: ‘The way that gate slammed I knew something had happened. Someone took off quickly.
‘I had heard banging coming from the house and then they obviously just legged it.
‘The police have been here about four days.’
Forensic officers spent hours at the scene of the car and only yesterday removed a tent and forensic scene.
And police have been asking locals whether they had seen any suspicion activity in the area – especially relating to men.
One person, who asked not to be named said: ‘It’s a mystery how she ended up here. The poor woman.
‘Officers asked me if I’d seen anything suspicious, they basically asked if any dodgy men had been in the area.
‘They seem to suggest they know who did it. From what they said to me I bet it sounds like a man who knew her. They seemed to want to know about men in particular.’
Map showing the location that Harshita’s body was discovered on Brisbane road
Map showing the location of Harshita Brella’s home on Skegness Walk in Corby
Shop worker Paul Sidebottom, 54, said police had spent hours in the street and had asked locals for CCTV.
He said: ‘Our shop CCTV hasn’t shown anything.
‘They asked if I’d seen or heard anything. They seemed very concerned.’
Northamptonshire Police has also referred themselves to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) due to previous contact they had with her.
Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Chief Inspector Johnny Campbell from the East Midlands Special Operations Major Crime Unit (EMSOU), said: ‘First of all, I want to express my heartfelt condolences to everyone who loved Harshita Brella.
‘She was a young woman in her early 20s with her whole life ahead of her and it is absolutely tragic that her life has been cut short in this way.
‘Detectives from EMSOU and Northamptonshire Police are working around the clock to establish the circumstances behind her death, including the exact location and timeframe in which it took place.’
DCI Campbell is appealing to anyone who may have information about this incident to come forward.
He said: ‘Although we believe Harshita was attacked by someone known to her, we are keeping an open mind, and would appeal to anyone who knew her to contact us with any relevant information they may have.
‘If you saw anything suspicious in the past week or have any information, no matter how small, please contact us. We would always rather receive well-meaning information that turns out to be nothing as opposed to not receiving it all.’
Anyone who may have information that could assist police inquiries is asked to contact police on 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.
