THIS is the first picture of the woman whose body was found dumped in a wheelie bin as cops have arrested a second man on suspicion of murder.
The body of Nicola Stevenson, 39, was found with “significant head injuries” by a dog walker in the undergrowth of a recreation ground in Lewes, East Sussex on Wednesday.
A 41-year-old man, of no fixed address, was arrested on Thursday and a second man, a 37-year-old also of no address, was arrested later that day in a car park in Langney Road, Eastbourne.
Sussex Police fear the victim had been there for several weeks and a post-mortem showed she died of blunt force trauma to her head.
Stevenson, who was believed to have been from Edinburgh, was a recovering cancer patient, according to her Facebook page.
Cops are continuing to appeal for anyone who might have seen the bin – including during the Bonfire Night firework displays.
A neighbour, who asked to not be named, said she heard screams behind her home late one night several weeks ago near to where a police cordon is still in place.
She said: “It’s been horrendous. We spoke when she first moved here about a year ago.
“I thought she had gone away and we haven’t seen her for four or five weeks.”
A Sussex Police spokesman said Ms Stevenson, from Lewes, had not yet been formally identified but officers were satisfied with the identity of the victim.
He added: “She had suffered a significant head injury and a post-mortem has shown that she died as a result of blunt force trauma to her head. Her next-of-kin have been informed.”
Detective Chief Inspector Chris Friday, from the Surrey and Sussex Major Crime Team, who is leading the investigation, said her next-of-kin had been informed.
He said: “Our thoughts at this time are with Nicola’s family and friends and we are determined to seek justice for them.
“Nicola died following a significant blow to the head. Her body had been placed in the wheelie bin and dumped in the undergrowth and we want to establish when that happened and when she was last seen alive.
“We know that the bin was probably there on November 1 and we are now trying to establish when Nicola was last seen alive.
“I am really interested to hear from anyone who saw her after around the first week of October.”
Police will now be working at the scene over the next few days.
Officers will be conducting house-to-house enquiries in the area.
Anyone with information should call 101, quoting Operation Stafford.
