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Hotel maid finds body

From the archive, first published Monday 4th Aug 2003.

POLICE have launched a murder investigation after a woman was found dead in an Oxford hotel room.

Detectives are questioning a man who handed himself in at a police station in Kent yesterday shortly after the woman's body was discovered by a chambermaid at the Travelodge, near the Pear Tree roundabout, in north Oxford.

The man was last night brought to an unnamed police station in the Thames Valley Police area for interview.

It is not known how the woman died, but Andy Leatham, a Travelodge spokesman, said she was found dead in bed. The chambermaid is being offered counselling.

The hotel closed yesterday while police investigated the scene. The area was cordoned off for forensic tests as scenes of crime officers moved in.

All guests at the hotel were moved to other hotels in the city at the hotel's expense following the discovery. Guests due to arrive today have been notified and also offered alternative accommodation.

Mr Leatham said: "The body was found by a chambermaid at lunch time.

"The guests booked in for last night were informed and existing guests have all been moved out while the police investigation is completed.

"The chambermaid has been offered counselling and any other staff who have gone through any trauma will be offered the same.

"We have no idea how long the hotel will remain closed, so we have taken the precaution of moving people out.

"We've never had anything like this before. Mercifully these things are few and far between."

A post-mortem was due to be carried out last night and police confirmed a murder inquiry had begun.

Spokesman Lucy Ferguson said there were few details about the dead woman and the man in custody at this stage.

She said: "It is not clear how she died."

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