On Monday, October 21st, 2019, the body of forty-six-year-old Zoe Orton was discovered in her flat in McMillan Street, Deptford, south-east London. A welfare check had been requested by concerned neighbors, and after police found her dead, the Metropolitan Police launched a murder investigation.
A post-mortem examination determined that the cause of death was neck compression, consistent with strangulation. There was no clear evidence of a break-in or struggle that would suggest forced entry. Personal effects were not thought to have been stolen.
Although the body was found on October 21st, investigators believe she may have been killed earlier, possibly around October 4th, based in part on her last known movements and phone and CCTV records.
Authorities described her lifestyle leading up to her death as “chaotic,” with regular visitors to her flat, and that she had been seen in Deptford and Woolwich, often among local drinkers.
Police released CCTV images of Zoe in the days before her death, including footage believed to show her leaving Woolwich DLR station early in the morning of October 4th. They also released earlier photographs to help jog the memories of people who may have known her or seen her during her last days.
A £20,000 reward was offered by the Metropolitan Police to anyone who could provide information leading to the arrest and conviction of the perpetrator. Despite this, neither the motive nor the identity of the killer is known as of this writing in 2025, and the murder of Zoe Orton is still unsolved.
Crime Immemorial 