Missing Actress May Have Been Murdered

[batman]

From onlinenews:

Divers Search For Head Of EastEnders Actress

Divers are searching a London canal for the head and limbs of EastEnders actress Gemma McCluskie after a torso was discovered floating in the water.
Frogmen are trawling Regent's Canal in Hackney, east London, hoping to find the legs, arms and head of the former soap star, 29.
Miss McCluskie's brother, Tony, 35, is understood to have been arrested on suspicion of murder, just days after he circulated 'Missing' posters asking for help to trace her.
It is understood Miss McCluskie was living with Tony, who is currently being interviewed at an east London police station, until she disappeared last week.
"The smallest detail could be important," the posters read.
Scotland Yard said that divers were renewing their search of the canal after the limbless torso was recovered from the Broadway Market stretch earlier this week.
"Police were initially contacted by a member of the public who had noticed something suspicious floating in the water," a Met spokesman said.
"The torso was recovered by divers from the Met's Marine Support Unit and additional searches are due to be carried out in the water."
Miss McCluskie starred in the soap as Kerry Skinner on more than 30 occasions in 2001.
Her character arrived in Walford as a friend of Zoe Slater and the great niece of the late Ethel Skinner. She briefly dated Robbie Jackson and got him to propose to her.
After Miss McCluskie's disappearance, friends and family members carried out searches in the area and handed out leaflets.
Co-stars Brooke Kinsella and Natalie Cassidy both appealed for help finding her on Twitter.
Kinsella has become a prominent anti-knife crime campaigner since her brother Ben was murdered in 2008.
She tweeted: "Gemma McCluskie has been MISSING from Bethnal Green since Thursday please get in touch if you have seen her."
Cassidy, who played Sonia in the soap, also posted: "Gemma McCluskie, missing since Thurs, if u have sn her/have any info PLS contact @CarlyKarma ... #FindGemma."
Sky's crime correspondent Martin Brunt said: "Although there has been no formal identification of the body, Gemma McCluskie's family have been informed about the discovery of the body and police are working on the theory that it is in fact her body."
Neighbours of Miss McCluskie have reacted with shock following the discovery.
Margaret O'Carroll, 88, said: "I've seen Gemma grow up around here, this is terrible.
"She lives in that maisonette with her mother and one of her two brothers. She's very nice, a nice girl.
"I didn't know she was missing, then my son told me about a body being found. The whole thing is scary, dreadful."
Another neighbour, who did not give her name, fought back tears as she said: "I'm so shocked, this is not something you hear about every day."
Detective Inspector John Nicholson, who is leading the murder inquiry, has appealed for witnesses.
Anyone with information is asked to call the police incident room on 020 8345 3985 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

[Windyridge]

I heard ths on the news yesterday. Dreadful. Like something out of Whitechapel.

[Dame Starry]

That canal is notorious for murders - particularly ones involving dismemberment

In 1988 the actor James Ellis's son was murdered beside the Regents Canal and a few years ago a group of boys who were fishing found the remains of a Liverpudlian woman in several bags.

[Windthrop]

That canal is notorious for murders - particularly ones involving dismemberment

In 1988 the actor James Ellis's son was murdered beside the Regents Canal and a few years ago a group of boys who were fishing found the remains of a Liverpudlian woman in several bags.

Didn't know about the Ellis story but the whole business chills the blood, Awful.

[cornershop15]

Sorry, I don't seem to remember this actress in EastEnders but am horrified by the discovery that was made. I don't even like to see films with grim subject matter but life continues to shock and disturb.

The reason I'm posting here is because I'm reminded of another actress who went missing, around 30 years ago, and who also might have been murdered. All I can recall, extremely vaguely, is that when it was reported on the news a black-and-white photograph appeared (an attractive blonde with her hair tied back) and I'm sure there was mention of an abandoned car. The lady's face and name were unfamiliar to me but for years I kept thinking it was Janet Maw. That can't be right. The actress in the picture was much older anyway, maybe 35-50.

One other thing that rings a distant bell is that she may have been on holiday or even lived in Italy. I have always been fascinated by actors and am more curious than ever to know who this was. If well-known, she could have returned from her disappearance, like Agatha Christie and Stephen Fry, and continued with her career, but I doubt that. Wish I had more information. Doubtless, there'll be something in those newspaper archives I've become addicted to.

I could have sworn I heard "Janet Maw" on News at Ten that time. If the memory's playing tricks with this story it's done so since I was a teenager. Can anyone help identify the actress and give further details of what happened to her?

[Windyridge]

S

The reason I'm posting here is because I'm reminded of another actress who went missing, around 30 years ago, and who also might have been murdered. All I can recall, extremely vaguely, is that when it was reported on the news a black-and-white photograph appeared (an attractive blonde with her hair tied back) and I'm sure there was mention of an abandoned car. The lady's face and name were unfamiliar to me but for years I kept thinking it was Janet Maw. That can't be right. The actress in the picture was much older anyway, maybe 35-50.

One other thing that rings a distant bell is that she may have been on holiday or even lived in Italy. I have always been fascinated by actors and am more curious than ever to know who this was. If well-known, she could have returned from her disappearance, like Agatha Christie and Stephen Fry, and continued with her career, but I doubt that. Wish I had more information. Doubtless, there'll be something in those newspaper archives I've become addicted to.

I could have sworn I heard "Janet Maw" on News at Ten that time. If the memory's playing tricks with this story it's done so since I was a teenager. Can anyone help identify the actress and give further details of what happened to her?

It can't have been Janet Maw, because she was appearing on television as recently as 2006 according to IMDB. She was very good in The Barchester Chronicles if you remember, but her subsequent parts didn't live up to that. I don't remember the case of the other actress you are referring to, sorry.

[Dame Starry]

Now confirmed:

Gemma McCluskie murder: Last CCTV photos of EastEnders character Kerry Skinner | Mail Online

[Tigon Man]

Sorry, I don't seem to remember this actress in EastEnders but am horrified by the discovery that was made. I don't even like to see films with grim subject matter but life continues to shock and disturb.

The reason I'm posting here is because I'm reminded of another actress who went missing, around 30 years ago, and who also might have been murdered. All I can recall, extremely vaguely, is that when it was reported on the news a black-and-white photograph appeared (an attractive blonde with her hair tied back) and I'm sure there was mention of an abandoned car. The lady's face and name were unfamiliar to me but for years I kept thinking it was Janet Maw. That can't be right. The actress in the picture was much older anyway, maybe 35-50.

One other thing that rings a distant bell is that she may have been on holiday or even lived in Italy. I have always been fascinated by actors and am more curious than ever to know who this was. If well-known, she could have returned from her disappearance, like Agatha Christie and Stephen Fry, and continued with her career, but I doubt that. Wish I had more information. Doubtless, there'll be something in those newspaper archives I've become addicted to.

I could have sworn I heard "Janet Maw" on News at Ten that time. If the memory's playing tricks with this story it's done so since I was a teenager. Can anyone help identify the actress and give further details of what happened to her?

Are you sure the victim was an actress Cornershop? My research is unable to locate a murdered actress of the time, but your mention of Italy brings to mind the murder of Jeanette May in Italy in the early 1980's. She was in the country with a female friend looking I think for antiques. Formerly married to one of the Rothchilds her body was discovered in a remote area of the country in 1982, possibly murdered by bandits. I think the official photo released of her had her blond hair up or in an alice band. her car was also heavily featured in the news coverage of the time, a hired Auto-Bianchi.

Another murder victim of the time was London solicitor Janice Weston. She was found dead in a ditch in off of the A1 in Northamptonshire in September 1983 aged 36. Her car an Alfa Romeo was parked in a nearby lay by. The car had suffered a flat tyre and investigation at the time suggested she may have been struck with a car jack. Ms Weston was also blonde.

Both murders made news headlines at the time, primarily because they were attractive wealthy women.

[cornershop15]

Many, many thanks for clearing up that mystery, Tigon Man. Extraordinary how much I remembered: the attractive, mature blonde; the abandoned car; the location. I wasn't too far off with the name and infact tried my 'luck' with Janet May at IMDb last night, to no avail (there are two, but with recent credits).

Now you have reminded me she was Jeanette May, I've just looked through the Daily Mirror archives and been confronted with a picture I last saw when I was 15. It appears in all four of their articles. This one is dated 22nd December 1980, two weeks after John Lennon's murder:

As with Keith Castle and Joyce McKinney, to name but two, it's an odd feeling seeing someone who made the headlines long ago and was soon forgotten about. Although I was mistaken in thinking Mrs. May was an actress, she did have some 'celebrity' status. In another article, Jeanette is described as "a former model and TV quiz show personality". Presumably a hostess, some years earlier, and known by her maiden name?

The story interested me at the time but I can't recall being shocked or upset when I heard of the tragic outcome, as I must have done. Probably traumatised by Beatle John's death. I would have cared more now. As for Gemma McCluskey, the real subject of this thread, her brother was charged with her murder earlier today. Without knowing any details, this seems an odd - as well as shocking - case. Why kill his sister?

[torinfan]

Horribly tragic news, it made me ill just to read the details.

[Dame Starry]

Brother Charged With Ex-EastEnders Star's Murder - Yahoo! News UK