Police hunting the killer of dog walker Anita Rose today defended a decision to release a suspect on bail as a post mortem failed to establish her cause of death.
A 45-year-old man was arrested on Saturday on suspicion of the attempted murder of Ms Rose, 57, after she was found unconscious last Wednesday with serious head and brain injuries on a track at Brantham, Suffolk.
The man, who was said to be unknown to her, was re-arrested on suspicion of murder after the mother-of-six died on Sunday morning at Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge.
A 37-year-old woman was also arrested on suspicion of handling stolen goods ‘in connection with the incident’.
Both suspects from the Ipswich area were quizzed at a Police Investigation Centre in Martlesham before being released on police bail until October 25, pending further inquiries.
Detective Superintendent Mike Brown of Suffolk Police said: ‘Officers are continuing to establish the full circumstances surrounding Anita’s death. We will pursue all lines of enquiry to understand what led up to this event.
‘Our thoughts, as always, remain with Anita’s family at this incredibly difficult time.
Anita Rose died four days after she was found unconscious on a usually ‘safe and peaceful’ countryside path near to Rectory Lane in Brantham, Suffolk, last Wednesday
CCTV images issued by Suffolk Police of Ms Rose before she was found in Brantham
Police were seen searching fields on Monday, July 29, near to where Ms Rose was found
‘We completely understand and empathise with the concern some members of the Brantham community have expressed about the fact a male who has been arrested on suspicion of murder was subsequently bailed.
‘It is important to understand that at times it may be necessary to make arrests in serious and complex investigations based on the evidence available at that time to fully understand the role individuals may have played in any offences identified.
‘As such, a person’s status in an investigation may change as the case develops which may result in options such as bail being used.
‘We remain in close liaison with our other relevant community groups and representatives and repeat what we have said previously that we are working extremely hard to find out who was responsible.’
Police also confirmed that a post-mortem by a Home Office pathologist on Monday had failed to establish how the much loved grandmother had died. Further tests are due to be carried out to find out her exact cause of death.
But detectives say that the death of Ms Rose is still being investigated as a murder by the force’s Major Investigation Team.
Ms Rose had gone on a walk with her beloved springer spaniel Bruce (pictured), who ‘heroically stayed with her and alerted passers by’
Anita Rose, pictured with her partner Richard Jones, was described as a ‘loved mum’
Anita Rose, 57, was found near to Rectory Lane, Brantham, along a footpath (above)
A statement said: ‘Anita’s family have been informed of this latest update and continue to be supported by specialised officers.
Detective Superintendent Mike Brown added: ‘Anyone with concerns can and should approach an officer in the area who will be happy to talk to you.
‘Tomorrow, Wednesday 31 July, our officers will be conducting anniversary checks in the Rectory Lane area and on Train services between Ipswich and Manningtree.
‘As part of this officers will be distributing leaflets which contain details of the investigation and a QR code to our Major Investigations Portal.
‘As ever, we are keen to speak to anyone who saw anything on Wednesday that they think might be useful to the police investigation and anyone living in the area that has CCTV or doorbell cameras. If you have any information, please do come forward.’
Anita Rose tragically died four days after she was found with serious head injuries
Officers on the scene where the dog walker was reportedly attacked in Brantham, Suffolk
Ms Rose was captured on doorbell footage, wearing her usual pink zip-up jacket, at 5am last Wednesday after she and her two-year-old springer spaniel Bruce left her semi-detached home in Palfrey Heights, Brantham.
Police have released a map showing the three mile route she covered on a network of tracks and bridleways before being found 90 minutes later at 6.30am by a man cycling to work
If she had been walking at four miles an hour it suggests that she may have been lying injured for more than 30 minutes on a section of the track between a sewage farm and the main Ipswich to London railway line.
Police have since recovered her iPhone, but are still hunting for her jacket
Ms Rose’s son Ash Rose posted an appeal on Facebook for the public to help police with their investigation.
He wrote: ‘The person responsible for doing this to my mum and my children’s Granma is still out there!
‘Our family appreciates the kind words but please, please SHARE and SPEAK to friends or family who may know something no matter how small or insignificant they think it might be and please urge them to contact the police. Thank you.’
Police pictured searching for Ms Rose’s pink jacket on Monday, July 29
Ms Rose’s partner Richard Jones, a lorry driver, posted: ‘This was my beautiful Anita absolute heartbroken love you always and forever in my heart.’
A tribute from her children released by police said: ‘Our mum was well known and loved in the community.
‘She was brutally taken from us devastatingly too early, and we have been robbed of so much time with her.
‘She wasn’t just a mum of six, she was also a grandma to 13, a long-term partner, a mother-in-law and a special friend to so many.
‘Someone somewhere must know something, and we urge them to come forward. We want to thank everyone for their love and support. All we ask is for everyone to cherish their time with their family and loved ones.’
A dog walker from Brantham who knew Ms Rose said: ‘She was a lovely lady. I often used to see her when I was walking my dog, and she would always say hello.
Police search for the missing pink zip up jacket near the footpath on Monday, July 29
‘She was always in her pink jacket, and she really stood out in it. Sometimes she was by herself or with her partner or a woman friend who lived close to her.
‘When I heard the woman who was attacked had left her home at 5am, I assumed it was another woman because Anita is generally out a little bit later.
‘I walk my dog religiously at 6.20pm, and that’s when I usually see her. I last saw her on the day before she was attacked. It is just awful.
‘I am a man, so I am not really affected, but I have been told that this has made a lot of women very nervous.
‘Some are saying they don’t want to go walking down there any more, and others are checking the security around their homes.
‘The track where it happened is in the middle of nowhere. It doesn’t really go anywhere so I believe that a person who knows the area was responsible.’
A near neighbour of Ms Rose described her as ‘a lovely lady and a good friend.’
The track where she is believed to have been attacked is popular with local dog walkers and used by others as a short cut, avoiding the main road through Brantham.
Police are asking that anyone with information to contact Suffolk Police quoting 37/41580/24 via: MIPP Portal: Public Portal (mipp.police.uk), or phone tel. 101
Crimestoppers – Contact the independent charity Crimestoppers 100% anonymously on 0800 555 111, or via the online form: http://www.crimestoppers-uk.org/
