Murder probe after woman's body found

Oct 2 2007 by Madeleine Brindley, Western Mail

A MURDER investigation has been launched after the body of a woman, thought to be that of a missing 24-year-old dog-walker, was found.

Kelly Hyde, from Ammanford, has not been seen since Thursday when she dropped her car off for repairs at Brynteg Garage on Pontarddulais Road, Tycroes, at 9.15am.

The hairdresser, who works at The York Palace pub in Llanelli, is thought to have then taken her black and tan whippet Scrappy for a walk.

It is thought that she was heading towards her home in New Road, through the old coal washeries area.

The dog was found wandering about in the area by a member of the public on Friday morning.

Police officers launched a major search after Ms Hyde’s housemates reported her missing on Thursday evening. They discovered a body in a wooded area near a bridle path off Mill Terrace, Pantyffynnon on Sunday.

At the weekend Kelly’s mother Barbara Hyde, said, “She’s a very friendly, bubbly girl. She never changed her plans without telling someone else first.

“We are desperately worried.”

Mrs Hyde, who lives in Cefneithin, said she first heard news of her daughter’s disappearance while on the way home from a holiday in Crete.

“It’s very, very stressful – we’re just at such a loss about how this has happened,” she said.

“We’re all pulling together to help one another through.”

A Dyfed-Powys Police spokeswoman said there had been a possible sighting of Ms Hyde in Mill Terrace on Thursday morning.

A post-mortem examination at the University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, last night revealed that the unidentified woman’s body had serious head injuries.

Last night the body had yet to be formally identified as Ms Hyde.

An incident room was set up at Ammanford Police Station, and officers appealed for anyone who saw Ms Hyde on Thursday morning to come forward.

Detective Superintendent Simon Powell, who is the senior investigating officer in the case, said, “It doesn’t matter how insignificant you may think your information is, it may be an important part of the jigsaw to assist us with our inquiry.”

When Ms Hyde went missing she was wearing a black puffer jacket with a fur collar hood, black trousers and black boots.

Extra police officers have also been drafted in to Ammanford, in part to help reassure the worried community.

One of Kelly’s neighbours, Michelle Howard, said, “I’ve told my 19-year-old daughter not to go out very far unless someone, like her boyfriend, is with her, just in case.

“I’m worried in case there’s someone out there – because that’s what you think when you hear about people disappearing.”

And Ammanford town councillor Linda Morgan, who also lives in New Road, said, “Obviously I’m distressed about it and how anything like this can happen here. I have a daughter, so being a mother and a neighbour really brings it home.

“It’s very disturbing. ”

But acting Assistant Chief Constable Gwyn Thomas said such incidents in the Dyfed-Powys area were rare.

He said the force was “absolutely committed” to bringing the investigation to a quick and successful conclusion.

Police would not speculate on any motive but did say there had been no reports of any women having been approached or attacked in the area previously.