A 57-year-old man has been charged with the murder of a woman he is believed to have known, following her death at a residential address in Croydon, south London, police have confirmed.
The Metropolitan Police said Sarah Reynolds, 58, was found unresponsive at a property on Towpath Way in Selhurst in the early hours of Saturday, 12 April. Emergency services were called to the scene at around 4.55am, but despite the efforts of paramedics, she was sadly pronounced dead at the scene.
On Monday, Scotland Yard confirmed that Earlston Bennet, 57, has been arrested and charged with her murder. He remains in custody and is due to appear at Croydon Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday afternoon.
The Met said officers were treating the incident as a domestic matter and were not looking for anyone else in connection with the investigation. A spokesperson for the force said: “It is believed Bennet was known to Sarah and detectives are not seeking anyone else in relation to the incident.”
Formal identification has been carried out and Ms Reynolds’ next of kin have been informed. They are currently being supported by specialist family liaison officers.
Detective Chief Inspector Laura Semple, who is leading the investigation, said: “Our thoughts are first and foremost with Sarah’s family and loved ones at this difficult time. We understand the shock and concern such incidents cause in the local community, and I want to reassure residents that we are conducting a thorough investigation to establish what happened.”
Officers from the Met’s Specialist Crime Command have launched a full inquiry and remain at the scene gathering forensic evidence. Post-mortem results are expected to be released later this week, which will help establish the precise cause of death.
Police say they are particularly keen to speak with anyone who may have seen or spoken to Ms Reynolds in the days and weeks before her death. Detective Chief Inspector Semple added: “We are working to build a comprehensive picture of Sarah’s life in the run-up to this tragic incident. Anyone who had contact with her recently, or who noticed anything suspicious in the area around the time of the incident, is urged to come forward.”
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Local residents expressed shock at the tragic events. One neighbour, who asked not to be named, said: “It’s heartbreaking. Sarah was always polite and kept to herself. We had no idea anything like this could happen on our street.”
Another resident added: “You just don’t expect this kind of thing to happen so close to home. The police have been here all weekend. Everyone’s rattled.”
Police patrols have been stepped up in the Selhurst area in the wake of the incident, with officers reassuring the public and appealing for information. Towpath Way remained cordoned off on Monday evening as forensics teams continued their investigation.
Anyone with information is urged to call the Met Police incident room on 101, quoting CAD 991/12Apr. Alternatively, information can be provided anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
As the community comes to terms with the news, Ms Reynolds’ family have requested privacy while they come to terms with their loss. Scotland Yard said further updates would be provided as the investigation progresses.
