11-year-old girl found dead in village park 5 hours after being reported missing
Police in Elmley Castle, a small U.K. village about 120 miles northwest of London, are treating her death as “unexplained” as they continue investigating

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An 11-year-old girl has been found dead in Elmley Castle, a small village in the U.K. about 120 miles from London
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The preteen was reported missing late Sunday, Oct. 4, before being found in a park near a cricket club
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Police are treating the death as unexplained as officers investigate the circumstances
An 11-year-old girl has been found dead in a park in a small U.K. village, with police treating her death as unexplained.
The girl, who has not been named, was reported missing at about 11:20 p.m. local time on Sunday, Oct. 4, West Mercia Police announced in a news release published in the early hours of Monday.
She was later found dead in a park near a cricket club in Elmley Castle, about 120 miles northwest of London, police confirmed.
The girl’s family has been informed, with specially trained officers supporting them.
“Inquiries are ongoing to establish the circumstances surrounding her death, which at this stage is being treated as unexplained,” police said.
“People living in Elmley Castle will see an increased police presence in the area while officers carry out their inquiries,” they added.
In a later news release published on Monday, police said the investigation into the girl’s death was continuing.
Chief Inspector Daniel Pilkington said, “We know the death of a young girl will be deeply upsetting for the local community, and our thoughts remain with her family and friends at this time.”
“We would also ask people not to speculate about the circumstances surrounding her death. This is an incredibly difficult time for her family, and I would urge everyone to be mindful of the impact that speculation could have on them.”
According to the Evesham Journal, a local outlet, sunflowers were laid on a nearby bench, while a section of the park was cordoned off with police tape.
Police officers were also present at the scene on Monday morning the investigation continues.
Elmley Castle, part of Worcestershire in England’s West Midlands region, has a population of about 580, per government data.
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The castle the village is named after stands on the side of a nearby hill and dates back to the 11th century, while Queen Elizabeth I passed through the village in 1575, according to the local council.
