A manhunt was underway tonight for the killer of a woman found murdered and dumped in a black bin bag in a park in Liverpool.
Police were contacted on Friday afternoon after a member of the public discovered her body in a walled garden in Stanley Park, Anfield, around 5.25pm.
Today, Merseyside police revealed that – despite extensive inquiries – they had yet to identify the victim, who appears to be in her 70s.
Many park visitors have since reported spotting the bin bag, but did not alert the police, believing it not to be suspicious, they said.
Detective Superintendent Rachel Wilson, who is leading the murder investigation, said it was a 'shocking crime' and that police were doing all they could to apprehend the perpetrator.
The senior officer revealed that the woman's body had been inside the bag in the busy park, which lies between Liverpool FC's Anfield stadium and Goodison Park, the former home of Everton FC, for 'a number of weeks'.
Ms Wilson said missing person reports had been checked, but so far had drawn a blank.
She appealed to local residents to check on their neighbours and think about whether there was anyone that lives in their community, who they may not have been seen for several weeks, and to contact them with information.
Forensic officers collecting evidence at Stanley Park after a woman's body was discovered in a walled garden area
Police confirmed an investigation is ongoing and CCTV, witness and forensic enquiries are being carried out
The dead woman is described as white, in her 70s, 5ft 2in tall, of small build and with strawberry blonde hair. She was also wearing a 'distinctive pink Nike branded T-shirt'.
Ms Wilson confirmed detectives were examining CCTV from nearby streets, and carrying out house-to-house enquiries as a matter of urgency.
She said a post-mortem had also taken place, but the woman's cause of death was not being made public 'for investigative reasons'.
Appealing to members of the public with any information, dashcam, doorbell or CCTV footage to come forward, Ms Wilson added: 'We are doing all we can to identify the person or persons responsible and bring them to justice. This is a shocking crime.'
Stanley Park is a large, 110-acre park that is popular with joggers, dog walkers and children enjoying the summer holidays.
Assistant Chief Constable Andy Ryan admitted that the discovery of the woman's body would be 'concerning and unnerving' for locals, but insisted his officers were 'determined to get answers'.
He said neighbourhood teams would continue to speak to local residents and businesses, but accepted 'the only real reassurance will arrive when we locate the person or persons responsible'.
'Stanley Park is well known as being the park that separates the Anfield and Goodison football stadiums,' Mr Ryan said.
The entrance to Stanley Park in Liverpool where, inside the walled garden, a police cordon remains in place tonight
A pink T-shirt similar to the one worn by the murder victim
'It is a very busy and popular green space, especially in the recent warm summer weeks. It is visited by dog walkers and families, as well as people walking and exercising.
'It is quite possible that one or more of these visitors may have seen something suspicious recently and not reported it at the time. If you didn't speak to us then, please do come forward now.
'With hindsight, what you saw, heard or captured on devices may have carried more significance than you realised at the time.
'We are particularly interested in speaking to those who have been in the area of the walled gardens in Stanley Park in recent weeks.'
He said a mobile police station had been set up in the park and urged anyone with information to contact them or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Today, vistors to the park said they were 'petrified' and 'shocked' that the woman's body had been found in such a public place.
James Hannah, 29, said: 'I run in this park almost every day. It makes me sad that I might have run by her without knowing. I hope they find out who did it soon.
'It won't stop me running through park.'
Janet Taylor, 55, added: 'It is shocking that the woman has been there for weeks. It is also scary that this happened so close to home. That poor woman!'
She added: 'Although it's very unlikely I will be attacked here, it does make me feel more uneasy than before she was found.'
Young mum Jojo Miron said: 'I’m petrified to be alone in the park. I couldn’t come here on my own now.'
While dog walker Mike Willoughby, 43, said: 'Someone must know who she is. It's likely she is someone's mum or grandmother.
'Why has no one missed her? If she has been in the park for so long, someone must be missing her.
'It's frightening that someone was murdered but the saddest part for me is that no one has missed her.'