Local Woman Discovers Human Remains in Suitcase During Family Outing

A body was discovered in a suitcase at a park, close to where a children's teddy bear hunt event had been taking place.

Following a search of the area, officers launched a murder investigation after finding evidence that suggested 'someone had come to harm'.

Two men, aged 27 and 32, from Wandsworth were arrested on suspicion of murder after visiting a police station. The suspects lived approximately 30 miles away from the scene.

Police have launched a murder probe after a body was discovered in a suitcase at a park, close to where a children???s teddy bear hunt event had been taking place. Officers were called to Borstal Recreation Ground in Rochester yesterday (Friday), and remain in the area today. The Met is leading the investigation after receiving a report of a potential murder in Kingfisher Court, Wimbledon, just before 11pm on Thursday (July 9). Officers attended the scene, but no one was found in the property. After carrying out a search, they believed someone had come to harm at the address, and an investigation was launched. Yesterday, the Met was told that two men, aged 27 and 32, had attended Medway Police Station in Gillingham. They were arrested on suspicion of murder and remain in custody. Officers attended a wooded area at Borstal Recreation Ground, and a man was found dead in a suitcase. Reacting to the incident, Rochester and Strood MP Lauren Edwards (Lab) described the news as ???distressing???. She said: ???My thoughts are with the victim's family. ???The Met Police have made two arrests and do not believe there is any wider risk to the public, but Kent Police will be stepping up their community engagement in the Borstal area, which I welcome.??? Throughout the day officers had been combing the area, and a cordon had remained in place until this afternoon. Residents say a police investigation like this is ???unusual???. Demi Flemings, 23, has lived off the back of the park in Shorts Way since she was five years old. She said it was ???a bit too close to home??? adding ???it???s a bit weird that it???s all about something happening in Wimbledon. ???Police come down here sometimes but not for something like this.??? Another resident, who did not want to be named but has lived in Shorts Way for nine years, says he is ???surprised??? by the news. When the lift engineer came home from work yesterday around 5.30pm he saw a police car and tape at the bottom of his road. Dad of one, Ivan Tsvetkov was playing with his child at the park, and as he was returning at around 7.30pm, he saw the police presence. The Amazon warehouse worker, 38, says he is ???shocked??? by the news. He said: ???I can???t imagine something like this happening at the park. I play there with my child. ???There are always loads of people there so I am shocked by it. ???It???s a nice quiet area and I wouldn???t expect something like that here.??? Although formal identification is yet to take place, detectives believe they know the identity of the victim and have contacted his next-of-kin. Featuring: Officers have cordoned off Borstal Recreation Ground When: 11 Jul 2026 com - +44 (0)20 3397 3000**

A local resident, Ivan Tsvetkov, spoke out about the shocking discovery, stating he couldn't imagine something like this happening at the park where he regularly plays with his child.

Tsvetkov described the area as a 'nice quiet' spot, adding that he was shocked by the event, which took place at around 7.30 pm.

Detectives have charged Joshua Miller, 32, with murder and preventing a lawful and decent burial, and Jamie Cooper, 27, with preventing a lawful and decent burial.

The Metropolitan Police have confirmed that the victim and both men charged were known to each other.

The suspects are set to appear at Medway Magistrates' Court tomorrow.