Canal body: youth arrested on suspicion of murder

A TEENAGER has been arrested on suspicion of murder following the discovery of a woman’s body in a Rotherham canal.

The 17-year-old youth, who has not been named, was originally arrested on suspicion of assault after police officers looking for missing mum Laura Wilson (17), found some of her belongings, which locals said had blood on them.

The items were found on a towpath alongside the South Yorkshire Navigation Canal, off Steel Street close to the young woman’s home in Holmes.

When divers searched the canal yesterday afternoon they discovered a body and the youth was re-arrested on suspicion of murder.

He was detained by police overnight for questioning.

The body has not yet been identified but Laura’s family has been informed of the discovery.

A post mortem examination is due to be carried out later this morning to establish the cause of death and formal identification made later this afternoon.

Police were called in to look for Laura, the mother of a four-month-old daughter, after she had not been seen since 9.30pm on Saturday.

A police spokesman said: “At this stage, the death is being treated as suspicious as a matter of routine. Laura’s family is being updated.”