WARRINGTON has been rocked by the weekend death of a teenage girl.

Cheshire Police has confirmed it has started a murder probe after 16-year-old Brianna Ghey was found with serious injuries in Culcheth Linear Park.

Sadly the Birchwood teen died at the scene on Saturday afternoon.

By Sunday afternoon, police confirmed they had launched a murder probe.

So what do we know so far?

 

What happened?

 

Police were called to Culcheth Linear Park at 3.13pm on Saturday. They found a girl with serious injuries. Sadly she was found dead at the scene.

A huge emergency services operation was launched.

Warrington Guardian:

Police confirmed the death around 7pm. By 11pm they confirmed a teenage girl had died and an operation was under way.

Residents reported large numbers of emergency vehicles and the area was closed off.

 

Who has died?

 

Police confirmed on Sunday afternoon that the victim was Brianna Ghey.

Aged just 16, she was from Birchwood.

Warrington Guardian:

Det Ch Supt Mike Evans said her family are devastated at the loss of their beautiful daughter.

They are being supported by specialist officers.

On Monday her family paid tribute to their hilarious daughter. 

What are police saying?

Mr Evans told the Warrington Guardian police were following a number of lines of enquiry.

He added: “This is a truly awful attack on a 16-year-old girl, who has sadly lost her very short life. We are appealing for any information that will help us find who has done this to Brianna.

"I would like to reassure the local community that we are working hard to find those responsible for Brianna’s death and we have extra officers in and around Culcheth supporting the investigation. We also have officers supporting Brianna’s family at this really tragic time.”

Who has been arrested?

Officers say they have arrested two teens, 15 late on Sunday.

Warrington Guardian:

Mr Evans said: “We are also keen to speak to anyone who was in the park from around 1.30pm until 4pm yesterday or anyone who may have seen Brianna in the hours leading up to her death. We would ask people and businesses within the local community to check any CCTV or dashcam footage for anything that may aid our investigation."

Is there a motive?

 

Police say they are keeping an open mind but there is nothing to suggest it is a hate crime. Brianna was a transgender girl.

Information can be reported online at cheshire.police.uk/police-forces/cheshire-constabulary/areas/cheshire/about-us/about-us/provide-more-information-about-an-appeal/ or by calling 101, quoting IML 1476832.

Information can also be reported anonymously, via Crimestoppers, on 0800 555 111.