Girl found dead at home in ‘close knit’ Cotswold village ‘lived with her mother and sibling’ – as murder probe launched

Neighbors said a girl who lived with her mother and brother in a house in a beautiful village was found dead.

A murder investigation has been launched after officers were called to the property on Middle Street in Islip, north Oxfordshire, on Tuesday.

While the police cordon remained in place today, a forensic medicine tent was also set up. Officers have not yet released the girl’s age.

A villager who has lived in the ‘tight-knit’ community for 25 years said the family was renting the property at the time of the tragedy.

They described them as a ‘busy young family’ consisting of a mother and her two children.

The woman said: ‘It’s so sad; I can’t even imagine what happened. The situation was very bad for the neighbors who knew them very well.

‘They’ve always been a working, busy, young family and I don’t think they’ve even been here a year. As far as I know, there was a mother and two children.’

The local added: ‘This is something that will never happen in this village. ‘So shocking, sad and completely out of the blue.’

Police and coroners are on the scene today in Islip following the girl’s death on Tuesday.

Police and coroners are at the scene today on Islip’s Middle Street, where investigations continue

Neighbors of the girl who died this week said she lived with her mother and sister

Local councilors Gemma Coton, Alisa Russell and Julian Nedelcu made a joint statement and said they would ‘do our best to support’.

‘This is heartbreaking news for the residents of the village and our thoughts are with those affected by this tragedy,’ they said.

County councilor Laura Gordon echoed comments from fellow Liberal Democrats.

‘I will protect the family and everyone affected in my thoughts and offer the community any support necessary,’ he said.

Parish council chairman Dennis Price said he saw several police cars as well as an ambulance and a minibus.

He said of the family affected: ‘I think they’ve been there for a short time.

‘We are a very peaceful society and we do not expect this kind of thing.

‘The only time we saw this many official vehicles was JD Vance. [US Vice President] I made it.”

The girl’s body was found at an address on Islip’s Middle Street on Tuesday (pictured)

Police cordon set up outside house in Islip this morning

Residents of Middle Street were shocked by the investigation, saying nothing like this had ever happened before in the village known as the birthplace of Anglo-Saxon King Edward the Confessor.

A woman living across the street from where the tragedy occurred said that this was the first time an incident of this magnitude had occurred in the village where she had lived for more than 50 years.

The woman said she knew nothing about the incident and did not know who the people involved were.

‘All I saw that day were lots of police cars and the police came here to reassure me that everything was okay,’ he said.

‘I didn’t hear anything and was surprised at what was going on.’

A representative for Bicester and Woodstock said: ‘Islip is a close-knit village and the sense of shock will be felt deeply as people come to terms with what has happened.’

He added: ‘It is essential that the police are given the space necessary to conduct their investigation thoroughly.’

Thames Valley Police continue their investigation into the death of a girl in a Cotswold village

His memorial at the local St Nicholas Church reads: ‘Our prayers are with everyone involved or affected by the tragedy on Middle Street.

‘And a reminder that the church is open all day for those who wish to reflect/seek solace/pray with others in the community.’

A heavy police team was dispatched to the scene yesterday morning and a cordon was established at the property. A judicial tent was also set up.

In a statement yesterday, police said: ‘Thames Valley Police have launched a murder investigation following the death of a girl at an address in Middle Street, Islip.

‘The girl’s relatives have been informed and are being supported by specially trained officers.

‘There is a crime scene at the address and there will be an increased police presence in the area whilst we investigate.’

Senior investigating officer Detective Chief Inspector Sally Spencer added: ‘Firstly I would like to share our condolences to the family of the girl who died so sadly today.

‘We have launched a murder investigation but we are still in its early stages and will provide further details as soon as possible.

‘We recognize that this investigation will be concerning to the public, but we believe this incident must be contained and we are not aware of any threat to the wider public at this time.

‘Anyone with information about the death or who has images from Middle Street today should call 101 or report via our website using reference number 43250537456.’