Man, 21, arrested for ‘murder’ after ‘beautiful’ woman, 20, fell 40ft to her death from attic window
POLICE have arrested a man on suspicion of murder after a young woman fell 40ft to her death from an attic window.
Charlotte Holland, 20, was discovered with “unexplained injuries” after her body lay for hours outside a house in Herefordshire.
Emergency services were scrambled to the three-storey red brick Victorian home in Hereford, at 5am on July 17.
A 21-year-old man has been arrested and released on bail while police continue their investigations.
Police confirmed the young woman died at the scene and that her next of kin had been informed.
Charlotte, who had just passed her driving test, was staying with a male friend who rents the top floor of the three-storey home.
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Neighbours said she may have gone to cool off at the window of the attic flat or was sitting on a ledge smoking a cigarette when she fell.
One said: “The top floor of the houses get very hot – I heard she was at the attic window cooling off and having a cigarette.
“It must have been in the early hours – she could have been alive on the ground under the window for some time.”
She went on: “It’s tragic for the young woman and her family. She didn’t live here and was just staying overnight.”
The landlord of the flat, 72-year-old John Criasia, said: “I got up at 5.30 on Monday morning and the police were in my garden – I could see the body, there was a blanket over her.
“I don’t know how she fell but it was from the top floor.”
Earlier, Charlotte’s mum paid tribute to her “beautiful and caring” daughter after her “unexplained death”.
She said: “In memory of my beautiful, funny, caring, loving daughter – my precious baby girl Charlotte.
This is an incredibly sad incident and our thoughts go out to the family of the young woman who has lost her life
DI Mark Walters
“As a mother, I never ever expected to have to write something so tragic and heart-breaking as this – my heart is in pieces, and I know many of you who knew Charlotte loved her dearly.”
She went on: “As most of you know by now my beautiful daughter Charlotte passed away in what I can only describe as completely devastating circumstances.
“The heartache I am enduring at this awful time knows no boundaries. I still cannot and don’t think I ever will accept the loss of my baby girl and best friend.
“We respectfully request that we are allowed to grieve in private as a family at this difficult time.”
West Mercia Police confirmed a local man had been arrested and released on bail while inquiries continue.
“This is an incredibly sad incident and our thoughts go out to the family of the young woman who has lost her life,” Detective Inspector Mark Walters said.
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“I understand that incidents of this nature are alarming but would like to reassure the local community that this is an isolated incident and there is no wider risk to the public.”
An inquest into Charlotte’s death has been opened and adjourned by the Herefordshire Coroner.