Murder hunt after body of woman 'found under floorboards of home'

Published on Wednesday 16 September 2009 22:02

A MAJOR police inquiry is under way after the body of a woman was reportedly found under the floor of a West Lothian home.

Lothian and Borders Police said the discovery was made early yesterday in a block of four properties in Balbardie Crescent, Bathgate. Officers were called to the address on a different matter, they said, but refused to give any more details.

Neighbours have named the woman who lived at the flat with her partner as Carol Jarvis. She is said to be in her 50s and originally from London.

Previously, the couple had complained of being harassed by anti-English thugs and claimed that dog excrement had been put through their letterbox and their windows had been shattered. They also said that graffiti had been daubed on the walls telling them to: "Go home English pigs."

Their ordeal made national news after they moved to West Lothian from London in 1993.

It was not known whether or not the previous incidents were linked to yesterday's events. The couple, who have not been seen locally in recent days, are thought to have four children.

Police said that it was "not possible" to officially confirm the victim's identity. However, they confirmed that the woman's death was being treated as suspicious.

Lothian and Borders Police have now established an inquiry team at the new divisional headquarters at West Lothian Civic Centre.

A force spokesman said: "A full forensic examination is being carried out and until we have the results available, we will not be in a position to give any information about the body or the circumstances surrounding the death."

Officers yesterday cordoned off the property to allow search teams to move in, and began carrying out house-to-house inquiries.

One nearby residnet aged 37, who would only give her name as Margaret, described Balbardie Crescent as a "quiet" area. She said: "I have seen a lot of police vehicles going back and forward, but I never thought it would be anything like this.

"I live on the street behind this and, to be honest, they are both quiet streets. It's a shame I have to live in an area where these things happen. It makes you afraid and I keep my door locked all the time."

Another neighbour, who lives across the road from the house where the body was found, said: "As far as we know, she (Ms Jarvis] has been killed, that's just the rumour we've heard.

"It's been years since I've spoken to her, I don't think anyone in the street has anything to do with them."

Detective Inspector Phil Gachagan, who is in charge of the investigation, said: "We were called to the house in the early hours of this morning by concerned members of the public.

"Officers searched the house and they found what is believed to be a dead body.

"We have since carried out a forensic investigation and have confirmed that the body of a female was within the house.

"We are in the process of carrying out our investigation into what is being treated as a suspicious death."

Michael McGinley, the owner of The Livery Lounge, a pub in Livery Street – just a couple of roads away from where the body was discovered – told The Scotsman: "Punters have been saying the body was found under the floorboards.

They say it is a female and that the male partner has been missing."