Facial reconstruction appeal launched for woman found in the River Mersey earlier this year

We are appealing for information to help identify a woman who was sadly discovered in the River Mersey earlier this year.

On Thursday, 21 March, a member of the public alerted the emergency services to a body found in the river, adjacent to Chorlton Water Park.

Despite extensive work over the last eight months, including detailed forensic, DNA, and investigative work, the woman has unfortunately remained unidentified.

Further work is still to be done, but we are now in a position to release a facial reconstruction, which has been created by Face Lab at Liverpool John Moores University.

The woman was from a European background, around five feet one inches tall, with a slim build, and dark brown hair. She was likely aged between 26 and 40, though could be older or younger.

She was discovered wearing a Primark neon green strapless corset style top, New Look branded Jenna black jeans in a size 8, and dark green anti-slip socks, the type that are believed to be used in hospitals and care facilities, although they can be purchased in shops and online. She additionally had an elastic band and hair bobble on her wrist.

The woman was in the water for around one or two months – though it cannot be stated for certain exactly how long.

She may have entered the water in a surrounding area or region, with the River Tame and River Goyt both merging into the River Mersey.

Further analysis of her body is due to be completed, but her cause of death is currently being treated as unexplained. Finding out who she is will assist in establishing the circumstances in which she entered the water.

We are urging anyone who may recognise the woman, or believes they have any information, to please get in touch with us.

Detective Inspector Louise Edwards, from GMP’s Major Incident Team, said: “We have worked with numerous experts covering a wide range of forensic examinations and tests available to us, but we have sadly been unable to uncover the woman’s identity.

“We want nothing more than to reunite her with her family and friends. She could be someone’s mother, auntie, sister, or cousin – somebody out there will know who she is and we want to ensure she gets back to her loved ones.

“If you have any information at all, please do get in touch with us. Even the smallest amount of information could greatly benefit in finding out who she is, and the circumstances which led to her sadly being discovered in the river more than eight months ago.”

You can contact police by calling 101, or by using our Live Chat Service at gmp.police.uk, quoting log number 1191 of 21 March 2024. Alternatively contact the Major Incident Team Syndicate 3 directly on 0161 856 9479.

You can also contact the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111. Information can also be provided online using the dedicated Major Incident Public Portal here - Public Portal