Murder investigation launched in Plymouth after man's body discovered
Update: Formal identification has now been carried out and the deceased has been named as Keith Dance aged 33 years who lived on Molesworth Road in the Stoke area of Plymouth.
Jacqueline Cooke aged 29 of Victoria Place and Ian Gollop aged 50 of Molesworth Road – both Stoke addresses - have been charged with the murder of Keith Dance.
They are both due to appear at Plymouth Magistrates’ Court tomorrow morning, Thursday 14 March.
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Police are unable name the deceased at this time as formal identification has not yet been carried out, though the family has been informed. The victim is aged 33 and lived at Molesworth Road in the Stoke area of Plymouth.
A murder investigation has begun which is being called Operation Locomotive. Detectives from the major crime investigation team are assisting the Plymouth investigation team.
Detective Chief Inspector Paul Bean leading the investigation said: “This is the very early stages of a murder investigation and as you can appreciate I am limited to what I can share with you at this time.
“I want to reassure the local community that the two suspects and victim were all known to each other. I can also share with you that all three had recently come to the attention of the police for an earlier incident. At this time I am unable to give further details, but this will form a line of enquiry in my investigation. As a consequence of this I have referred this incident to the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC).
“Local neighbourhood officers and PCSOs have been patrolling the area today (12 March), to reassure local residents.
“There are a number of specific lines of enquiry that the investigation team is following. This includes carrying out house to house enquiries and looking into the relationship history of the deceased and the two suspects. In addition there is some complex forensic retrieval and analysis being carried out.”
A forensic post mortem is being undertaken today which is hoped will identify the actual cause of death.
DCI Bean said “I appreciate local people would like to know more details but at this time we must allow the investigation to run its course and not allow ourselves to be drawn into speculation. I will endeavour to provide further updates as and when I’m able to.”
If anyone has any information about this incident or saw or heard anything suspicious in the vicinity of Molesworth Road in the last 48 hours please contact police on 101, alternatively call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111 and quote reference ED/13/1446.
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A 50-year-old man and a 29-year-old woman remain in police custody. Both were arrested earlier today on suspicion of murder.
Reported earlier: Police in Plymouth have launched a murder enquiry following the discovery of a man’s body in a property in Molesworth Road, Plymouth.
Police were called to the property just after 1am this morning, Tuesday 12 March.
The man, who has not yet been formally identified, is believed to be aged in his early thirties.
Two people, both local, a man, aged 50 years and a woman aged 29 years have been arrested on suspicion of murder and remain in custody awaiting interview.
Police will today, Tuesday, carry out a forensic examination of the scene and house to house enquiries.
