Police launch homicide probe after receiving contemporary info over dying of lady electrocuted in her tub 25 years in the past
Police have launched a murder investigation into the death of a mother – 25 years after a coroner ruled she was accidentally electrocuted in the bath.
An October 2000 inquest heard Rhonda Anderson died while having a bath after an electric radio fell into the water.
Coroner Anne Pember was told the mother-of-two was found in the water with the radio still switched on and floating beside her. Ms Anderson’s sisters had gone to the property in Briar Hill, Northampton, after relatives had been unable to contact her.
But police have launched a fresh investigation after receiving fresh information this summer and detectives are now appealing for friends or neighbours who knew Ms Anderson to come forward.
Detective Chief Inspector Torie Harrison, from the East Midlands Special Operations Unit Major Crime Team, said: ‘Rhonda died at home in July 2000, when an investigation took place and a report prepared for the Coroner, who ruled at the conclusion of an inquest that Rhonda’s death was accidental.
‘However, new information has come to light this summer which has prompted us to re-examine what happened to Rhonda and a formal murder investigation is now underway.’
As part of their work, detectives are appealing for anyone who may have been friends with Rhonda or who knew her at the time of her death and may have any relevant information they can share to contact them.
DCI Harrison, the senior investigating officer in the case, said that while a ‘significant amount of time’ had passed since Ms Anderson’s death, she was ‘hopeful that anyone who may have any information about her life or what may have happened to her will still have clear memories they can share with us.’
DCI Torie Harrison said new information had come to light ‘which has prompted us to re-examine what happened to Rhonda’
Ms Anderson was found dead in the bath at her home in Hembury Place, Northampton (above)
The Northamptonshire Police detective added: ‘It doesn’t matter how insignificant you think the information you recollect is, we want to hear from you as we explore the circumstances of what happened.
‘This development has obviously come as a huge shock for Rhonda’s family who are being supported by specially trained officers and have asked for privacy at this difficult time.’
The inquest was told the radio may have been accidentally knocked into the bath when she died.
Recording a verdict of accidental death, Mrs Pember said the radio ‘fell into the bath and electrocuted her’
Anyone with information about Ms Anderson or what may have happened to her can Northamptonshire Police via 101, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Please quote crime number 25000536509 when providing any information to make sure it gets to the right person as quickly as possible.
