Norma Girolami: Murder hunt launched after woman, 70, disappears from Highgate home

A murder hunt has been launched to investigate the disappearance of a 70-year-old woman in leafy north London, who hasn’t been seen for weeks.

Norma Girolami, who lives in Cholmeley Park, in posh Highgate, has not been seen since the middle of August.

Police have now arrested two people on suspicion of fraud, false imprisonment and murder in relation to her disappearance.

On Friday, a 39-year-old man was arrested at an address in Islington and a 34-year-old woman was arrested at an address in Finchley.

They were both taken into custody, where the man remains. The woman has been released on bail to a date later this month.

Ms Girolami was reported missing to police on September 20.

Officers have conducted searches of several addresses and have contacted friends and relatives, but so far have been unable to locate Ms Girolami.

Her home shows no sign of her planning to leave, food was left in her fridge and she said nothing to her friends and relatives, Scotland Yard said.

Officers have become increasingly concerned that some harm may have come to Ms Girolami and the investigation has been passed on to homicide detectives from the Met’s Specialist Crime Command.

Det Ch Insp Kate Blackburn said: “Norma has not been seen by her friends or family since the middle of August.

“As a result of our investigation we are extremely concerned that Norma may have come to some harm.

“Her home shows no sign of her planning to leave, food was left in her fridge and she said nothing to her friends and relatives.

“This is completely out of character and as more and more time has passed, this has only added to our fears that some harm has come to her.

“In view of these concerns for her welfare, and to stop the anguish her friends and relatives are enduring, it is imperative that anyone with information contacts police.

“If anyone knows anything about where Norma may be, has witnessed anything from mid-August to mid-September in the area that Norma lived or if you know anything about what may have happened to Norma, then please contact police.

“Your information, no matter how trivial you might think it is, could be the vital information that helps us find Norma.

"Norma, if you are safe and well please get in touch with the police.”

Any witnesses or anyone with any information is asked to call police on 101 or contact via Twitter @MetCC. Please quote CAD 4006/01OCT

To give information anonymously contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or online at crimestoppers-uk.org.