Mysterious case of ‘murdered’ woman who washed up on island wearing a gaffer tape mask as cops remain baffled over death
A MASK of gaffer tape and scattered bones remain at the centre of a mysterious cold case that has now left cops baffled for ten years.
On June 21, 2014, a group of unsuspecting ramblers set off on a hike around the salt marshes on Foulness Island in Essex.
First the walkers found a skeleton - a scattered selection of bones that immediately seemed too large to be anything other than human.
If that wasn't sinister enough, the group then discovered a bundle of gaffer tape nearby that was splattered with mud.
Foulness Island quickly became the scene of a large-scale police hunt as officers trawled through the unforgiving marshland for human remains.
A twitcher's paradise, the area is famed as a breeding site for flocking wild birds.
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But it also doubles up as a key military testing area for explosives and can only be accessed with permission.
It is also cut off entirely from the mainland by narrow creeks - meaning it was unlikely the victim had been killed on the island itself.
It took more than a month to establish the remains belonged to 33-year-old Angela Millington.
The Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate immediately launched a murder investigation as they attempted to sew together the fragmented tapestry of Angela's "chaotic" lifestyle.
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Since living on the streets in Southend-on-Sea, Angela had not been seen since February.
It took more than a year for a development in the case - the arrest of a 66-year-old man on suspicion of murder who was later released on bail.
The same suspect was re-arrested in December 2015 but was this time released without charge.
A third man, aged 51, also faced no further action when he too was held on suspicion of murder.
Growing frustrated by a lack of movement on the baffling case, a £10,000 Crimestoppers reward was offered for more information.
Police also attempted to get the hashtag #answersforangela trending on X, formerly Twitter, but to no avail.
But fresh interest in Angela's death exploded in 2016 when grisly details were revealed by cops.
Officers released mocked-up images showing how the gaffer tape had been used as a terrifying mask.
Using a mannequin to represent Angela, the thick black tape was wrapped around her head - covering her eyes, nose and mouth.
The real mask was also shown in the disturbing photos as police made a desperate bid to catch her killer.
Stiff with mud, the bound roll of tape looked like it wouldn't be out of place in a horror film.
Chillingly, officers were unable to say whether it was put on Angela's face before or after her death.
It is also not known how long she had been on the island and a post mortem was unable to establish a cause of death.
A coroner recorded an open verdict at her inquest as Essex Police told how her body had probably washed up on the island from Southend seafront.
Now, a decade on from the horror, the force has issued a fresh appeal for information as the hunt for Angela's killer continues.
A spokesperson told The Sun Online: "The case to determine how Angela Millington died remains unsolved.
"Angela’s body was found washed up on Foulness Island on Saturday 21 June 2014.
"It is still not known how the 33-year-old, who lived in Southend, died or how long she had been there. Essex Police has always treated her death as suspicious.
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"As with all unsolved cases, Essex Police remains committed to finding the answers to Angela’s death."
Anyone with information can call Essex Police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
