Black Widow
03-18-2009, 05:06 PM
TWO bodies have been discovered in a lake behind the home of a missing celebrity florist and her disabled daughter.
The grim find, of an adult woman and a young girl, was made by specialist divers this morning – three days after Jude Richmond and her daughter Millie, nine, were last seen alive.
They were recovered from the water just 50 yards behind their £600,000 luxury home in South Cerney, Gloucs, which backs on to the landscaped lake.
Detectives are now stepping up the search for a mystery, blond spikey-haired man seen with his arm around Jude's shoulders in an ''affectionate yet firm'' manner an hour before she was last seen on Sunday.
The two bodies are being taken to a nearby hospital for formal identification before post-mortem examinations are conducted to find the cause of death.
Gloucestershire police spokeswoman Kate Nelmes said: ''Police dive teams found the body of a young girl at 10.20am and the body of an adult female shortly after 11.30am.
''They were found in the water less than 50 yards from Jude Richmond's home.
''Finding these bodies makes it even more important that we speak to the mystery man seen before Jude and Millie disappeared.
''It is a moving situation at the moment and we are keeping all lines of enquiry open. We are still searching for this man but not on suspicion of murder until we know more."
Jude – who had supplied royalty and rock stars through her flower business – was said to have been in a "vulnerable" state.
She had been on a two-month holiday to New Zealand with Millie, who has cerebral palsy, and her City trader husband Nick.
But Jude, 41, unexpectedly returned early last Thursday with Millie, leaving Nick on the other side of the world.
Mystery
He flew back to England today and was heading for their Cotswold family home where police were set to break the news of the bodies to him.
Jude and Millie were last seen on Sunday evening and were reported missing by a worried neighbour on Monday morning.
Their house was found unlocked by their cleaner.
Jude had left her two mobile phones, purse and bank cards – although there were no toothbrushes in the house.
Her black Range Rover car and Millie's mobility scooter were also left behind.
Fears had grown after it was reported that they were seen with the mystery blond man shortly before the last sighting of them on Sunday evening.
Millie's dad Neil Whitehead, 54, had travelled from his home in London to personally appeal to Jude to safely return herself and their daughter.
He begged: ''Jude, we are here to support you. We would love to just have you and Millie back. Please come back and bring her back and lets work together to sort everything out.''
He was with them last Saturday – the day before they were last seen – and added: "Jude was full of energy and seemed very relaxed.
"I felt that she was in a happy place although things had been difficult for her.
''She was a little bit upset about things that had happened. Jude had said that she wanted to go to a place that had lots of nature where she can just chill out and relax.
''I believe that she came back a little bit early from New Zealand and there were certain issues with her relationship but I still think there must be an explanation."
Jude had sold up her floristry business at Christmas and her £600,000 home was on the market.
In the past she had supplied blooms to members of the Royal family including the Queen Mother, rock legends Pink Floyd, film productions and West End shows.
A police spokesman said: ''Formal identification of the bodies is unlikely to be carried out until tomorrow.
"However our sympathies are with Millie and Jude's next of kin, who have been informed of the discovery.''
The Coroner has been informed and a Home Office pathologist brought in to carry out post mortem examinations.
The deaths are being treated as unexplained and investigations are continuing into the circumstances surrounding them.
Local Reverend David Bowers, of All Hallows Church in South Cerney, said: ''Both Jude and Millie were lovely people. The whole village is absolutely devastated.
"We were hoping and praying that they would be ok and now our thoughts and prayers go out to Millie's father.
''Both Millie and Jude sometimes came to church and Millie was baptised here.
''Millie was a very special little girl. She was very lively and full of joy and life. Jude was a very kind person, very caring and sensitive.
''I hadn't seen them for quite a while because they've been in New Zealand. This will affect a lot of people in the village and we will pray for the rest of family.
''I always enjoyed talking to Jude - she was such a nice person.''
Alan Browning, owner of the Red Onion catering company, next to Cameila florists, wept as he said: ''They were a nice family and Jude was a devoted mother.
"Millie was beautiful. She was a little star.''
The Sun
The grim find, of an adult woman and a young girl, was made by specialist divers this morning – three days after Jude Richmond and her daughter Millie, nine, were last seen alive.
They were recovered from the water just 50 yards behind their £600,000 luxury home in South Cerney, Gloucs, which backs on to the landscaped lake.
Detectives are now stepping up the search for a mystery, blond spikey-haired man seen with his arm around Jude's shoulders in an ''affectionate yet firm'' manner an hour before she was last seen on Sunday.
The two bodies are being taken to a nearby hospital for formal identification before post-mortem examinations are conducted to find the cause of death.
Gloucestershire police spokeswoman Kate Nelmes said: ''Police dive teams found the body of a young girl at 10.20am and the body of an adult female shortly after 11.30am.
''They were found in the water less than 50 yards from Jude Richmond's home.
''Finding these bodies makes it even more important that we speak to the mystery man seen before Jude and Millie disappeared.
''It is a moving situation at the moment and we are keeping all lines of enquiry open. We are still searching for this man but not on suspicion of murder until we know more."
Jude – who had supplied royalty and rock stars through her flower business – was said to have been in a "vulnerable" state.
She had been on a two-month holiday to New Zealand with Millie, who has cerebral palsy, and her City trader husband Nick.
But Jude, 41, unexpectedly returned early last Thursday with Millie, leaving Nick on the other side of the world.
Mystery
He flew back to England today and was heading for their Cotswold family home where police were set to break the news of the bodies to him.
Jude and Millie were last seen on Sunday evening and were reported missing by a worried neighbour on Monday morning.
Their house was found unlocked by their cleaner.
Jude had left her two mobile phones, purse and bank cards – although there were no toothbrushes in the house.
Her black Range Rover car and Millie's mobility scooter were also left behind.
Fears had grown after it was reported that they were seen with the mystery blond man shortly before the last sighting of them on Sunday evening.
Millie's dad Neil Whitehead, 54, had travelled from his home in London to personally appeal to Jude to safely return herself and their daughter.
He begged: ''Jude, we are here to support you. We would love to just have you and Millie back. Please come back and bring her back and lets work together to sort everything out.''
He was with them last Saturday – the day before they were last seen – and added: "Jude was full of energy and seemed very relaxed.
"I felt that she was in a happy place although things had been difficult for her.
''She was a little bit upset about things that had happened. Jude had said that she wanted to go to a place that had lots of nature where she can just chill out and relax.
''I believe that she came back a little bit early from New Zealand and there were certain issues with her relationship but I still think there must be an explanation."
Jude had sold up her floristry business at Christmas and her £600,000 home was on the market.
In the past she had supplied blooms to members of the Royal family including the Queen Mother, rock legends Pink Floyd, film productions and West End shows.
A police spokesman said: ''Formal identification of the bodies is unlikely to be carried out until tomorrow.
"However our sympathies are with Millie and Jude's next of kin, who have been informed of the discovery.''
The Coroner has been informed and a Home Office pathologist brought in to carry out post mortem examinations.
The deaths are being treated as unexplained and investigations are continuing into the circumstances surrounding them.
Local Reverend David Bowers, of All Hallows Church in South Cerney, said: ''Both Jude and Millie were lovely people. The whole village is absolutely devastated.
"We were hoping and praying that they would be ok and now our thoughts and prayers go out to Millie's father.
''Both Millie and Jude sometimes came to church and Millie was baptised here.
''Millie was a very special little girl. She was very lively and full of joy and life. Jude was a very kind person, very caring and sensitive.
''I hadn't seen them for quite a while because they've been in New Zealand. This will affect a lot of people in the village and we will pray for the rest of family.
''I always enjoyed talking to Jude - she was such a nice person.''
Alan Browning, owner of the Red Onion catering company, next to Cameila florists, wept as he said: ''They were a nice family and Jude was a devoted mother.
"Millie was beautiful. She was a little star.''
The Sun