A MAN has been arrested on suspicion of murdering the woman whose body was washed up on Foulness Island last summer.

The 66-year-old Eastwood man was arrested on suspicion of murdering Angela Millington after voluntarily going to Southend police station yesterday.

He was taken for questioning by officers from the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate, while police and crime scene specialists searched beach huts in Shoebury.

Angela’s body was found on Foulness Island on Saturday, June 21, last year.

Bones were discovered on a salt marsh by a group of ramblers as they walked on the island. More skeletal remains came to light during a search of the island.

Extensive forensic and DNA tests were then carried out to establish the identity of the remains However, they did not establish how the 33-year-old Southend woman died or how long she had been in the sea.

She was homeless and lived in the Southend area, where she was known to Southend street drinkers, other homeless people and workers with the homeless charity Harp.

Initially, police said the last definite sighting of her had been on November 21, 2013, when she made contact with a housing officer in Westcliff.

Amurder investigation was officially launched last October, when an arrest was made. Police also released a video appeal on the Twitter website, on the #answersforangela hashtag.

Det Chief Inspector Simon Werrett, who has led the investigation, said in October: “She led what can be described as a chaotic lifestyle.

“I have been very encouraged by the number of calls we have had from people in the Southend area and the information they have given us has opened up a number of lines of enquiry.”

After the fresh arrest, police are still appealing for information about Angela’s death.

Anyone who can help is asked to call the murder squad’s dedicated incident room, by dialling 101 and asking for extension 470173 during office hours – or just 101 outside those times.

Information can be also be passed anonymously to Crimestoppers, on 0800 555111.

HUNT FOR FORENSIC EVIDENCE

POLICE search teams moved in to look through a beach hut in Shoebury, working in tandem with detectives questioning the man arrested on suspicion of murder.

Forensic staff in white overalls spent two hours yesterday afternoon at a beach hut near the Shoebury coastguard station.

Numerous bags of possible evidence were collected, individually marked and packed into the back of a police van to be examined.

Lynne Nardone, 53, from Hockley, was visiting the area and initially mistook the forensic team for council grasscutters.

She said: “I saw them in passing but I never thought it would be forensics.

I’m a carer and come down here maybe three or four times a month.

“I always feel safe around here – even on my own. I never feel threatened.

I used to live in Eastwood and have just moved, so I hope it’s not someone I knew.

“I’ve thought about buying a beach hut before and I wouldn’t say this would put me off.”

Police have not disclosed why they were searching the hut or the link between it and the man they were questioning.

ANGELA MILLINGTON MURDER TIMELINE

 

NOVEMBER 11, 2013 The last official sighting of Angela Millington, by a housing officer in Westcliff. Her bank card was used that day and her mobile phone has not been used since November 2013. She was known to associate with street drinkers and local homeless people.

MARCH 2014 Last suspected sighting of Angela by Southend Street Pastor Del Thomas.

JUNE 21, 2014 Bones are found washed up on on New Burwood Head, Foulness Island by a group of ramblers, who called police the next day.

A full search of the island was conducted and more remains were found. After forensic and DNA tests the body was identified as that of Angela.

Detectives believe her body may have been carried there by the tide, as it would have been very difficult for somebody to carry a body to the remote spot.

OCTOBER 30, 2014 A murder investigation is launched after detectives follow up calls made by the public.

OCTOBER 31, 2014 A 51-year-old Westcliff man is arrested on suspicion of murder and released on bail.

NOVEMBER 1, 2014 Detectives investigating the case get reports of possible sightings of Angela earlier in 2014.

DECEMBER 9, 2014 The Westcliff man is told he is no longer bound by police bail APRIL 20 2015 A 66-year-old man is arrested on suspicion of murder, after reporting voluntarily to Southend police station.

APRIL 20, 2015 A 66-year-old man is arrested on suspicion of murder, after reporting voluntarily to Southend Police Station.