by Lynn Cox

Police held a press conference this afternoon (Friday) following the discovery of the body of a woman in a suitcase in a dried out pond on farmland in Cliffe yesterday.

Speaking at the conference at the beginning of the cordon in Buckland Road Ch Supt Steve Corbishley said: "Kent Police is investigating a suspicious death following the discovery of a body in a suitcase on farmland off Buckland Road, in Cliffe, near Rochester, shortly before 1.30pm on Thursday.

"I can confirm the discovery was made by a female dog walker."

Detectives were called to an area off Buckland Road near the village on Thursday afternoon after a woman dog walker apparently spotted the grim discovery.

The scene was sealed-off so forensic examinations and a detailed search of the area could take place.

Other officers are investigating to try and find out who the woman is.

No details of how she died or how old she is have been released at this stage, however, a post mortem examination was due to be carried out on Friday, to determine the cause of death.

A large part of Buckland Road was still sealed-off more than 24-hours after the initial discovery and officers were still at the scene.

Mr Corbishley added: "Enquiries are ongoing to establish the identity of the body, which is believed to be an adult female.

"At this stage the cause of death is unknown, A post mortem will take place today and the outcome of that will determine which way the investigation goes.
"The suitcase was found in a dried up pond - known locally as the Old Pond and is about 100-200 yards from the road.

"Detailed examinations and searches are currently being carried out and there are between 50 to 60 officers working on the case."

Bob Worley’s farm, Oakleigh, is not far from the Old Pond where the body was discovered.

Bob, 64, said: "My partner was told by police that some remains were found in a suitcase in the pond, which is dried out now.

"I guess it could have been there for several weeks as the water level has fallen quite a bit in that time, it must have been dumped there."

Another passer-by who didn’t want to be named, said: "We were going for a walk down Buckland Road but it was sealed off and there was a police van parked at the end stopping people from going down there."