A 61-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of the murder of Lamduan Armitage, a Thai woman whose body was discovered in a Yorkshire Dales stream over two decades ago. North Yorkshire Police confirmed that the suspect remains in custody for questioning.
Lamduan, who would have been 55 today, was found dead near Sell Gill in the Yorkshire Dales on September 20, 2004. Her body was discovered by hikers walking along the Pennine Way between Pen-y-ghent and Horton in Ribblesdale. For 15 years, she remained unidentified and was known only as the “Lady of the Hills.”
Identification After 15 Years Leads to Murder Investigation
In 2019, Lamduan was finally identified after her parents in Udon Thani, Thailand, saw a BBC news report about the case and contacted North Yorkshire Police. They revealed they had not heard from their daughter since 2004. DNA testing later confirmed her identity, revealing that the mother of three had been living in the north of England at the time of her death.
Initially, investigators suspected she had died of natural causes. However, in 2018, a cold case team reopened the investigation and concluded that Lamduan had been murdered. This revelation led to an extensive inquiry, including police visits to Thailand to interview witnesses and gather evidence.
International Investigation and Family Connection
As part of the renewed investigation, North Yorkshire Police detectives and family liaison officers traveled to Thailand in February 2023. They conducted interviews in Udon Thani, Bangkok, and Kanchanaburi, and met with Lamduan’s parents, Buasa and Joomsri Seekanya, who had been seeking justice for their daughter.
Lamduan had moved to the UK in 1991 and lived in various cities, including Portsmouth, Rugby, and Preston. Despite her tragic fate, she was given a dignified farewell when local residents in Horton in Ribblesdale arranged and paid for her funeral in 2007.
Police Urge Public to Avoid Speculation
Following the arrest, North Yorkshire Police urged the public and media to avoid speculation about the case to protect the integrity of the investigation and respect the privacy of Lamduan’s family.
With the first major breakthrough in two decades, the arrest marks a significant step forward in the long-running search for justice for the “Lady of the Hills.”
