London Woman Found Dead in Devon Woodland Sparks Murder Probe
Body of Mee Kuen Chong Discovered in Salcombe
Mee Kuen Chong, 67, known to friends as Deborah, was found dead in woodland near Bennett Road, Salcombe, South Devon, on Monday 27 June. She had been reported missing from her London home on Friday 11 June.
The initial cause of death remains unknown following a post-mortem at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital on 28 June.
Murder Investigation Launched After Police Enquiries
On Tuesday 6 July, detectives’ enquiries in both South Devon and London led to a full murder investigation by the Met’s Specialist Crime Command.
That same evening, police arrested a 36-year-old woman at a Kilburn address on suspicion of murder. She remains in custody at a North London police station.
Critical crime scenes are still in place at locations in Devon and London, with searches expected to continue for days.
Family Supported as Police Seek Witnesses
Mee originally hailed from Malaysia but had lived in Wembley for over 30 years. Her family has been updated and is receiving support from specially trained officers.
Detective Chief Inspector Jim Eastwood said: “The discovery of Mee’s body is a tragic development. At this stage, we’re focused on piecing together her movements between 10 June and 27 June. We urge anyone who saw her in London or Devon during this time to come forward.”
Anyone with information is urged to contact police on 0208 358 0300 or anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Police Oversight and Public Appeal
The Met’s Directorate of Professional Standards and the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) have been informed as standard procedure.
An incident room has been set up to handle tips as the investigation intensifies.
