Murder investigation after woman in 20s found dead in bed in Crawley

Man, 47, detained by police at the same address

The scene in Highams Hill, Gossops Green, Crawley, West Sussex on Saturday after a woman in her 20s was found dead in a bed in a flat (PA)

A man has been arrested on suspicion of murder after a woman in her 20s was mysteriously found dead in bed.

The female was discovered in a flat in Crawley after friends reported her missing on Friday night. She had not turned up to pre-arranged plans, causing friends to worry.

The detained man, aged 47, was found by officers at the same address suffering minor injuries. It is thought he was known to the victim.

Neither have been named by police and it is not known if the flat was home to either of them. The cause of death remained unclear on Saturday.

Detective Chief Inspector Emma Heater, from the Surrey and Sussex major crime team, said: “We are investigating the circumstances of the death and are appealing to anyone with information to please get in touch.”

Neighbours described how officers arrived in large numbers to the address in Higham Hills in the Gossops Green area of town at 10.30pm.

Several neighbours claimed a man purporting to be looking for his daughter came to the flats late at night and asked them for help, although it is understood police do not believe the woman’s father was at the scene

Deliveroo driver Aaron Harvey, 24, who lives in nearby flats, told Press Association: “This man came over, saying he had been looking for his blonde 28-year-old daughter and had I seen her.

“He said she had been house-sitting for a man in a flat here for four months. He said no-one had heard from her for about 10 hours and he was worried.

“He said it was her birthday and she had booked a hotel in London to celebrate with friends but never turned up.”

Anyone with information or who witnessed anything suspicious is asked to contact police.

Additional reporting by PA