Norma Girolami
(Picture: PA Media)Detectives investigating the murder of a wealthy woman have discovered her remains in a north London churchyard nearly 15 months after she went missing.
Norma Girolami, 70, vanished from her Highgate flat in mid-August 2021 without warning, leaving food in her fridge.
Her family were left “distraught” and deeply concern for Ms Girolami, who lived alone and has no children.
The case took a strange twist when it emerged she had taken out a £35,000 loan after going missing.
Human remains were found during the search of church grounds on Friern Barnet Lane, north London.
They have been formally identified as being that of Mrs Girolami and her family notified.
A murder investigation was launched in October 2021.
Mrs Girolami lived in the Highgate area of London and regularly travelled to Brent Cross to do her shopping using public transport to make her way there. She was also a member at Archway Leisure Centre.
Police said she liked to visit Leigh-on-Sea and made a trip there on August 19, 2021. She took the train from Barking and returned to London later that day.
All communication from Norma stopped that evening.
Detective Chief Inspector Kate Blackburn said: “Despite accepting that Norma was no longer alive, I know that her family are deeply affected by the news that her remains have been found. Our thoughts are very much with them.
“My team has spent more than a year searching for Norma and there is a sense of relief that we have found her remains which will undergo forensic examination in due course.
“Despite this discovery, I would still be very keen to hear from anyone who knew Norma, either in London or at Leigh on Sea who can provide information on anything that was happening in her life in August last year. I am also appealing for anyone who saw any activity around the Churchyard in Firern Barnet Lane, N20 between August and October last year.
“Norma’s family and friends have endured a year of not knowing what had happened to her and our investigation remains ongoing. If you have any information, no matter how small a detail it may seem, please do get in touch.”
A 42-year-old man from Islington has been charged with murder and is due to stand trial in February next year.
