Detectives are investigating the tragic death of 24-year-old Harshita Brella, who was discovered in the boot of a car in Ilford, east London—approximately 160km (100 miles) from her Northamptonshire home. The shocking discovery came after Northamptonshire Police were alerted on Wednesday by a concerned member of the public regarding Brella’s welfare.
When officers went to Brella’s home in Corby, Northamptonshire, they found it empty. Efforts to reach her at her Skegness Walk address yielded no response, prompting an urgent search for her whereabouts. This search led police to an abandoned vehicle in east London, where Brella’s body was tragically found in the boot.
A post-mortem examination conducted at Leicester Royal Infirmary confirmed that Harshita Brella had been murdered. This devastating incident has prompted Northamptonshire Police to refer themselves to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) due to prior interactions between officers and Brella before her death.
Detective Chief Inspector Johnny Campbell extended his deepest condolences to Brella’s loved ones, stating, “First of all, I want to express my heartfelt condolences to everyone who loved Harshita Brella. She was a young woman in her early 20s with her whole life ahead of her, and it is absolutely tragic that her life has been cut short in this way.”
DCI Campbell highlighted that detectives are working tirelessly to uncover the circumstances of Brella’s death, including the location and timeframe of the crime. He also made a public appeal for information, noting, “Although we believe Harshita was attacked by someone known to her, we are keeping an open mind and would appeal to anyone who knew her to contact us with any relevant information they may have.”
The police are urging anyone with information, no matter how insignificant it may seem, to come forward. “If you saw anything suspicious in the past week or have any information, no matter how small, please contact us. We would always rather receive well-meaning information that turns out to be nothing as opposed to not receiving it at all,” added DCI Campbell.
