The daughter of a prominent Adelaide doctor has been found dead and a man arrested over her murder in the UK.
India Chipchase, 20, went missing on Saturday night after an evening out with friends in her hometown Northampton.
She left a local club around 1:15am and was making her way home to her mother’s house. But when she didn’t arrive, worried family contacted police.
Her brother Harry who lived and attended high school in Adelaide, made an urgent appeal to the public on Sunday desperate to find his sister.
“Ind please make contact with any of us. We just want to know that you are safe and ok, and we want you home. We love you,” he pleaded.
Her mother Suzanne wrote on Facebook: “India Eve Chipchase please let me know you’re ok please darling. Love you xxx.”
India, one of the four children of Adelaide obstetrician and gynaecologist Jeremy Chipchase, was working as a bartender while studying health and social care.
She lived in the UK with her mother Suzanne, 47, her brother Harry, 18, and sisters Pia, 15, and Honor, 11, in an upmarket suburb in the town of Northampton, while her father lives and works in Adelaide.
When she did not return home Sunday morning, her frantic family searched for her with her disappearance making headline news in the UK.
But tragically, police have now informed the family that they have arrested a man over India’s death. Police tracked down a man after knocking door-to-door showing a picture of India and a grainy CCTV still of two men.
They had broken down the front door of a local terraced house on Sunday after tracing missing India’s mobile phone signal to a park nearby.
A neighbour spoke of how police found India’s body at the dilapidated home of Edward Tenniswood, 51.
Alice Barber told The Sun, “They were knocking on [the accused’s] door. I told them he didn’t ever answer the door anyway. So they broke it down. They found her body. It is shocking and terrifying to think she might have died next door.”
Edward Tenniswood has been described as a loner who kept to himself.
“He lives on his own in that house. There are no curtains or carpets on the floor, just newspapers. It is a messy house. There is grease everywhere,” one neighbour said.
Police say that a post-mortem examination has concluded that India died as a result of pressure on the neck.
Edward Tenniswood was charged with her murder and remanded in custody. The 51-year-old is due at the town’s crown court on Thursday.
India’s death has captured the hearts of three nations, not just the UK and Australia where her father resides, but New Zealand too – the homeland of her boyfriend.
Evaan Reihana — a New Zealander playing professional rugby in the UK — had been dating India for several years. He wrote an emotional tribute to her on Instagram.
“I honestly can’t believe to think even now that you have left us in that way Miss India Eve Chipchase. I honestly hope you rest in peace HUN and that I will be playing for you as long as I know. You will be the name on my strap that will port me luck in the game we love. I miss you a lot India. Honestly.”
Her family and friends also took to social media to express their shock and grief.
Her brother wrote:
Her younger sister:
India’s colleagues at the popular pub where she worked said: “Our hearts are broken. Our tears are flowing a steady stream for the loss of our colleague. Friend, loved one, little smile machine who will be greatly missed by all that worked with you or had the privilege to be served by you.”
Our thoughts too are with her family.
Top Comments
Sad and senseless.
I know that they're young and in a highly stressful situation, but, by god, some of the people around this poor girl need to get off social media, their posts are off-key.
That last one was gobsmacking. Glad someone is in a safer place?
Off key how so? Perhaps I am missing something.