The decapitated body of Mee Chong, 67, was found in the woods in Salcombe, Devon, on 27 June, two weeks after she was reported missing from her home in Wembley, North West London.
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Police confirmed a 36-year-old woman was arrested at a residential address in Kilburn, North West London on Tuesday night on suspicion of murder.
The suspect was picked up by the North London police after the headless body of the London-based pensioner was discovered 200 miles from her home.
Unexplained cause of death
Chong, known to friends as Debbie, was last seen around her neighbourhood on 1 June and was reported missing on 11 June.
Police in the Devon and Cornwall area were called to a wooded area near Bennett Road, Salcombe, Devon, at about 5pm on 27 June after the headless body of a woman was located.
The body was later identified as Debbie's. Initially, police treated the death as unexplained. A post mortem is yet to ascertain the exact cause of death.
A murder investigation was launched and an incident room set up by the Met Police’s Specialist Crime Command, which led to this arrest.
However, police say the search for more information is ongoing and they are appealing to the public for tips on the last movements of the victim such as:
Any hotels or bed and breakfast accommodation where she may have stayed and also from anyone who knows why she was in Salcombe.
Chong was of Malaysian heritage and had been living in Wembley, London since relocating to the UK in 2004.
Anyone with information is asked to email 101@dc.police.uk or phone 101, quoting reference number 0700 of 27 June.
