A woman whose body was found in the River Thames some 45 years ago is thought to have had strong links to Leeds.
The woman, who drowned in the river, has never been identified, and until recently, clues about her identity were scant. But that changed when Locate International and a renowned forensic artist called Hew Morrison released a reconstructed image of her face.
The image, made from police pictures taken at the scene led to a flurry of new tips and the charity investigating her disappearance now believes the "Lady in the Thames" was from Leeds. A spokesperson for Locate International said: "The charity are now looking for information from anyone who may have known this lady and can link her to the Leeds area.
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"She left her lodgings unexpectedly, possibly heading for London, leaving all of her belongings behind; she never came back to collect them. She was 5’6” tall, with brown eyes, and short brown hair.
"She was also smartly dressed, found wearing black trousers, a blue overcoat, black shoes and a red and white striped blouse. The body was found at the bottom of the stairs leading to the south bank of the Thames by Vauxhall Bridge."
The charity which launched a fresh appeal just months ago says it had 14 credible tips that point to the woman having links to Leeds. Dave Grimstead, CEO and co-founder of Locate International said: "Despite this case being 45 years old, our experience tells us it can still be solved.
"This year alone, our teams of volunteers have solved cold cases just like this one, and we have brought closure to the families involved. The participation of local communities really is key, and any detail really may help us bring the vital clues needed to solve this mystery."
The charity says it hopes its newest efforts and more direct information could help jog memories and bring an end to one the longest running cases of an unidentified woman in recent times. spokesperson for Locate International said: "Her identity remains a mystery 45 years later, and the charity is appealing to the citizens of Leeds, and possibly graduates of Leeds based Universities and colleges during the 1970s, particularly around 1977, to see if they can provide further information, or even better, a name. If you recognise the woman in the image, and have any information about her, you can contact Locate International through our website ."
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