An elderly woman believed to be in her seventies was found murdered and discarded in a black bin bag in Stanley Park, Liverpool, authorities confirmed. The body had reportedly been in the park’s walled garden area for several weeks before being discovered on Friday afternoon. Despite the length of time, the woman has not yet been identified.

The 110-acre park, situated between Liverpool FC’s Anfield stadium and Goodison Park, the former home of Everton, is a busy public green space frequented by many visitors. Several parkgoers reported having seen the bin bag containing the body over recent weeks but did not find it suspicious at the time.

Police described the victim as a white woman, approximately 5 feet 2 inches tall, of small build, with strawberry-blonde hair. She was wearing a distinctive pink Nike T-shirt. A post-mortem examination has been conducted, but officials withheld details of the cause of death, citing ongoing investigative concerns.

Detective Superintendent Rachel Wilson called the incident a “shocking crime” and urged local residents to check on neighbors and consider if anyone in their community has been missing. She also appealed for members of the public with dashcam, doorbell, or CCTV footage to come forward to assist with the investigation. “We are doing all we can to identify the person or persons responsible and bring them to justice,” Wilson said.

Assistant Chief Constable Andy Ryan acknowledged the discovery would be a cause of alarm for local residents but emphasized the determination of law enforcement to solve the case. “It is a very busy and popular green space. It is quite possible that one or more of these visitors may have seen something suspicious and not reported it at the time,” he said.

Reactions from the community reflected a mixture of shock and unease. James Hannah, 29, who regularly runs in the park, expressed sadness at the possibility of having been near the body without realizing it. Janet Taylor, 55, described the situation as “shocking” and unsettling. Young mother Jojo Miron said she now feels frightened to visit the park alone, while dog walker Mike Willoughby, 43, remarked on the tragedy of the murder and the fact that the woman had not been reported missing.

Police continue to investigate and are appealing for any information that could assist in identifying the victim and apprehending those responsible.