Cold-case detectives fly drone over beach where mother-of-three was stabbed to death 16 years ago

Cold-case detectives fly drone over beach where mother-of-three, 35, was stabbed to death and her body set on fire as police launch fresh witness appeal 16 years after ‘macabre’ murder

  • Sussex Police today flew a drone over seafront where Jennifer Kiely’s body found
  • The 35-year-old mother-of-three from Orpington, Kent, was murdered in 2005   
  • She had been stabbed 16 times and her body was set on fire, police said

Cold case detectives probing the ‘macabre’ murder of a mother-of-three have today flown a drone over the beach location where her body was found in a fresh effort to find her killer. 

Today police flew a drone over the Eastbourne seafront in Holywell where Jennifer Kiely’s body was discovered 16 years ago as another year is set to pass without justice for her family.

Early on the morning of January 22 2005, a fire was reported in a shelter on the beach promenade in the East Sussex town.

The body of the 35-year-old mother-of-three from Orpington, Kent, was found by a cleaner in the shelter.

She had been stabbed 16 times and possibly sexually assaulted, and her body had been set on fire, police have said.

Detective Chief Inspector Tony O’Donnell, leading the inquiry in 2005, described the case as ‘macabre’. 

Details surrounding the current line of forensic inquiry detectives are following have not been disclosed, as police flew drones over the beach hut on the Eastbourne seafront today.

Ms Kiely’s mother Margaret said today: ‘I always find the anniversary an upsetting time and there isn’t one day when I do not think about Jennifer and what happened to her.

Jennifer Kiely, 35, was found dead in a beach hut on the Eastbourne seafront 16-years-ago. She had been stabbed 16 times and possibly sexually assaulted, and her body had been set on fire

A drone photo showing the beach location where the body of Jennifer Kiely, 35, was found 16 years ago as Sussex Police conduct investigations

A drone photo showing the beach location where the body of Jennifer Kiely, 35, was found 16 years ago as Sussex Police conduct investigations

Since  2017 police been working on the new forensic line of inquiry relating to unidentified DNA found at the scene

Since  2017 police been working on the new forensic line of inquiry relating to unidentified DNA found at the scene

‘I support this appeal and anything that will increase the chance of my daughter’s killer being caught.’

Despite extensive police inquiries, the first investigation was closed in May 2007.

In 2009, the case was assessed and deferred for further assessment as there had been no new intelligence or other development.

But since 2011, it has been a live case while forensic reviews and further work have been commissioned.

Police have, since 2017, been working on the new forensic line of inquiry relating to unidentified DNA found at the scene.

Kiely's body was found by a cleaner in the shelter on the promenade in the East Sussex town

Kiely’s body was found by a cleaner in the shelter on the promenade in the East Sussex town

Early on the morning of January 22 2005, a fire was reported in a shelter on the beach promenade in the East Sussex town

Early on the morning of January 22 2005, a fire was reported in a shelter on the beach promenade in the East Sussex town

Detective Superintendent Emma Heater, of the Surrey and Sussex Major Crime Team, said: ‘Please do not hesitate to come forward if you have any information, either something you remember from 2005 that was not reported or that you may have heard since.

‘As a result of the further forensic evidence, we have the ability to eliminate people from our inquiry.

‘Jennifer’s family deserve to know what happened to her and who is responsible.’

‘Further information about the current line of forensic inquiry is not being revealed at this time, but if anyone has any information that was not shared with us during the original investigation or since, no matter how small you may think it is, please report online or call 101, quoting Operation Kittiwake.’