The body of a woman has been found in a lock-up garage in New Malden by police investigating the case of missing oil executive Carole Waugh.


The body was found in Lime Court, New Malden, yesterday evening, Metropolitan Police confirmed.


Miss Waugh, 50, of Harrowby Street, Marylebone, was last seen on April 16 and was reported missing by her family on May 4.


A number of personal possessions, including Cartier jewellery, have gone missing from Miss Waugh's flat in central London.


Police said "significant plundering of her estate has taken place" to the value of hundreds of thousands of pounds had also taken place.


The body is yet to be formally identified and a post-mortem examination will take place later.


A 40-year-old man has been charged with three counts of conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation arising from transactions associated with Miss Waugh's identity.


Detective Chief Inspector John McFarlane of the Homicide and Serious Crime Command (HSCC) said the case was first treated as a missing persons investigation but is now a murder investigation.

Det Chief Insp McFarlane said: "Information has been received which has progressed this inquiry and we are now treating Carole's disappearance as a murder investigation.

"I am unable to go into further detail about the nature of the new information at this time, however, we now believe that Carole has not been seen alive since April 16.


"I am releasing images of items of Cartier jewellery, identical to that worn by Carole, which are amongst items missing from her personal possessions.

"The jewellery that is missing is as follows: a Cartier ring, a white gold bracelet; a yellow gold bracelet and a yellow gold necklace, which are all in the same style.


"Carole wore the jewellery regularly and I appeal to anyone may have been offered such jewellery or has any knowledge of its whereabouts to contact us with information."


Anyone with information that can assist this investigation is urged to contact the incident room at Sutton on 020 8721 4205; if you wish to remain anonymous please call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

  • A 47-year-old man arrested on suspicion of murder is among 10 people in custody over Miss Waugh's disappearance. He was detained at Luton airport on Tuesday on suspicion of kidnap and conspiracy to defraud, but subsequently arrested on suspicion of murder.


A 40-year-old man has been charged with three counts of conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation.