Alisa Dmitrijeva whose body was found in woodland at Sandringham on New Year's Day

Sandringham murder latest - police appeal for help piecing together tragic Alisa’s last days

Chris Bishop Monday, January 9, 2012
12:57 PM

Interpreters are standing by as police appeal to members of the Eastern European community for information about the last movements of murdered student Alisa Dmitrijeva, whose remains were found on the Royal Estate in Norfolk on New Year’s Day.

Alisa went missing in August

Alisa was born in Latvia in May 1994 and moved to the UK with her family in 2009.

She was planning to become a beautician and was due to enrol on a course at the College of West Anglia, in King’s Lynn, the day after she was last seen.

Alisa was last sighted in the Friars Street, between Lynn town centre and the South Gate, late on August 31.

Cambridgeshire police launched an appeal to find the teenager after she was reported missing by a family member, on September 6.

Detectives said she had links in Lincolnshire and Peterborough and it was not unusual for her to stay away from home for several days, but she had always previously stayed in touch with her family.

After a number of unconfirmed sightings police offered a £5,000 reward for information on her whereabouts.

Detectives also appealed for information regarding the movements of a P-registered green Lexus GS300 car in connection with her disappearance. The vehicle was seen at Heacham - five miles from where the body was found - around the same time.

Officers have also been using social media in an effort to track down the teenager and have created Facebook pages in English, Latvian and Lithuanian.

Detectives sealed off a remote copse near the Royal Stud after human remains were found by a dog walker on New Year’s Day.

DNA taken from the body confirmed it was that of Latvian-born Alisa, 17, who was reported missing from her home in Wisbech on September 6.

Today Det Chief Insp Jes Fry, who is leading the investigation into the case, said: “Now that we have identified Alisa, we can carry out more focused inquiries to establish what happened to her.

“We particularly want to speak to anyone who may have seen Alisa between midday on Tuesday, August 30; and midnight on Tuesday, September 6.

“We know she was in both the King’s Lynn and Wisbech areas during this time, and want to hear from anyone who has any information about her whereabouts over these eight days.

“We particularly want to speak to people within the Latvian, Lithuanian and Russian communities in these areas, and are working with local groups and individuals who may be able to assist.

“We have access to a language line and interpreters who can help anyone calling in with information to Norfolk Constabulary.”

Police have already spoken to a number of members of Royal staff, including grooms and a gamekeeper.

Alisa’s remains were found just over a mile from sandringham House, where the Queen, Duke of Edinburgh and other members of the Royal family spent Christmas.

DCI Fry added: “We are also still keen to speak to anyone who was working in the Anmer area, specifically between August 30 and September 6, and anyone who held or was involved in organising any kind of function at Sandringham or neighbouring parishes during that time.”

Anyone with any information relating to the incident should contact the Joint Norfolk and Suffolk Major Investigation Team at Norfolk Constabulary on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.