Fulham Murder Victim Vanessa Santillan Was Transgender Escort
Police ask: Did you see her around Landridge Road on March 27 or 28?
Vanessa Santillan, the 33 year-old who was murdered in Fulham on March 28, was a transgender woman, originally from Mexico, who had been working as an escort.
Detectives are continuing to appeal for information following her murder, which took place in a first floor flat in Romilly Court off Landridge Road.
They are asking if anyone met her or remembers seeing her around Landridge Road, off the western end of Fulham Road on March 27 or 28.
Ms Santillan called herself "one in a million" on her website, writing about travelling around the world and going on high fashion shopping sprees. In a recent entry she said of her stay in London: " I’m a Ts girl visiting from MIAMI FL.
" I am looking to meet upscale, respectable gentlemen, of a certain calibre, who know how to treat a lady like me."
Police say they launched a murder investigation after officers were called by the London Ambulance Service at around 9.30pm on Saturday, 28 March to the body of a woman found at a flat in Romily Court off Landridge Road, SW6.
A post-mortem examination held at Fulham Mortuary gave the preliminary cause of death as injuries to the head and neck. An incident room is open in Lewisham and detectives from the Homicide and Major Crime Command investigate.
Detective Chief Inspector Rebecca Reeves, who is leading the investigation, told the Evening Standard: " Vanessa’s parents are devastated by the loss of their daughter. She was living many miles from home, but she was regularly in touch with her family, and she last spoke to them on Friday 27 March.
" Later that evening, she met up with a small group of friends and went out to the West End, returning home in the early hours of Saturday. I need to hear from anyone who saw Vanessa on Saturday 28 March and anyone who met her while she was in London.
" We need to know why this has happened and we want help from anyone who knew her while she was in London."
A 23-year-old man was arrested in connection with the investigation. He has been bailed to return on a date in late May pending further enquiries.
Any witnesses or anyone with any information that can assist police are asked to call the incident room on 020 8721 4868 or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or via crimestoppers-uk.org.
April 9, 2015
