Suffolk Police murder investigation into Brantham dog walk attack - what we know so far

Credit: Suffolk Police/Richard Jones

Brantham dog attack Anita Rose murder investigation
Anita Rose, 57, was on a dog walk when she was attacked and found unconscious on Wednesday 24 July. Credit: Suffolk Police/Richard Jones

Murder detectives are handing out leaflets one week on from an attack on a rural path which killed a mother-of-six.

Anita Rose, 57, was found unconscious in the village of Brantham in south Suffolk after the attack while walking her dog on Wednesday, 24 July.

Suffolk Police have launched a murder investigation and made three arrests, but are still appealing for witnesses and are hunting for a pink jacket the mother-of-six was wearing at the time.

ITV News Anglia has the full timeline of how Anita Rose was found and what police have investigated so far.

Wednesday 24 July

5am - Anita Rose leaves her home in Palfrey Heights, Brantham, to walk her springer spaniel, Bruce.

She would have then gone to Brooklands Rise to Rectory Lane, before turning on to The Chase and the A137 Ipswich Road. From there, she would have turned onto Newmill Lane and taken a track road near the railway line, before retracing her steps up to Ipswich Road.

6.25am - After walking through the village to Rectory Lane, a member of the public finds the 57-year-old with serious head injuries. They call the ambulance.

She is taken to Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge in a critical condition.

An updated map of the route Suffolk Police believe Anita Rose took, before she was murdered. Credit: Suffolk Police

8am - Suffolk Police are called by the East of England Ambulance Service to the path near the sewage works and railway line.

The force treats the incident as attempted murder and a police cordon is set up at the scene, with forensic and house-to-house inquiries taking place.

Police at the scene in Brantham. Credit: ITV News Anglia.

Thursday 25 July

Police reveal they are searching for Ms Rose's mobile phone and a pink Regetta zip-up Calderdale II jacket she is thought to have been wearing, both of which are missing.

Det Supt Mike Brown says police are keeping an open mind, but that they are treating it as an attempted murder.

Friday 26 July

Police release a doorbell camera image of Anita Rose walking her dog, and name her publicly. She is wearing the pink zip-up jacket, which she was not wearing when she was found.

Officers appeal again for help finding the jacket, as well as her Apple iPhone.

Anita Rose was wearing this distinctive pink jacket on the morning she was attacked. Credit: Suffolk Police

The missing pink jacket is described as waterproof in material and believed to be from outdoor clothing brand Regatta.

Her family issue an appeal saying: “Mum is a local woman who walked her beloved dog every day.

"As a family we are devastated and thank the public and media for their support so far. If anyone has any information, please come forward and speak to the police.”

Anita Rose was described as "well known" and "loved" by her family. Credit: Suffolk Police

Saturday 27 July

1pm - A 45-year-old man from the Ipswich area, not believed to be known to Ms Rose, is arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.

He is questioned at Martlesham police investigation centre.

A 37-year-old woman from the Ipswich area is arrested on suspicion of handling stolen goods.

Sunday 28 July

Morning - Anita Rose dies at Addenbrooke's Hospital, four days after being attacked.

Ms Rose's family pay tribute to the "well-known and loved" mother-of-six and grandmother-of-13, saying they have been "robbed of so much time with her".

The 45-year-old Ipswich man is re-arrested on suspicion of murder. He and the 37-year-old woman are released on bail to return on 25 October 2024.

10pm - Police say they have found Ms Rose's iPhone.

Monday 29 July

3pm - In a press conference, Det Supt Mike Brown urges people to "remain vigilant" and to tell people where they are going if they are concerned about going out for a walk.

A map is issued of the route police believe Anita Rose took before the attack. At this point, they believe she looped round from Newmill Lane to Rectory Lane, where her body was found.

A map showing the route Anita Rose took before she was attacked. Credit: Suffolk Police

Police say they are eager to speak to anyone who travelled on trains towards Ipswich or Manningtree at the time who may have seen something, as the path is so close to the train track.

Tuesday 30 July

Police say a post-mortem examination has taken place, but the cause of death has not been established and there will be further tests.

They clarify the people from Ipswich were released on bail and said, "a person's status in an investigation may change as the case develops".

Wednesday 31 July

One week on from the attack, Suffolk Police check the Rectory Lane area again, spend time on trains between Ipswich and Manningtree and distribute leaflets to members of the public.

The force continues to search for Ms Rose's pink jacket.

In the afternoon, they announce that they have arrested a second man on suspicion of murder - the third arrest overall. The man, in his 20s and from Brantham, is questioned at Martlesham police station.

Thursday 1 August

Detectives are given a further 12 hours to continue questioning the man in his 20s.

Friday 2 August

They are given a second extension by Ipswich Magistrates’ Court - a further 36 hours to question the man, taking them to approximately 1pm on Saturday.

Saturday 3 August

The man is released on bail until 24 October, with conditions including not to enter Brantham and Manningtree.

Sunday 4 August

Police cordon off two "locations of interest" on Newmill Lane in Brantham to carry out further searches. Officers with shears and gardening equipment are seen.

Thursday 8 August

Police lift the two cordons on Newmill Lane. By this stage, detectives have spoken to more than 630 people, and had taken 90 statements. They have also received more than 150 messages via the Major Investigation Public Portal.

They also reveal they have revised the route they think Ms Rose took. Instead of looping round from Newmill Lane to Rectory Lane (where her body was found), she had turned back when she reached the river, back up Newmill Lane.

Saturday 17 August

New images are released of the missing jacket and phone case belonging to Ms Rose.

Officers have already recovered Ms Rose's phone, but they are now looking for the phone case which is described as a black wallet-style quilted case with gold crown and stud detail.

Wednesday 4 September

After trawling through CCTV, police say they have narrowed down who they would like to speak to and released images of two people who could have "key information".

They stressed the two are not suspects.

They reveal they revised her route back in August after investigating a tracking app on her mobile phone.

The app was manually stopped when she turned back up Newmill Lane and reached The Street. Further analysis showed it was normal for the app to be stopped at this point in Anita's usual walk.


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