Owami Davies: Third man arrested for murder as police search Croydon house for missing student nurse

The 32-year-old was arrested on suspicion of murder on Tuesday, August 2, at an address in South Croydon and remains in custody.
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A third man has been arrested on suspicion of murder in connection with the disappearance of Owami Davies, a student nurse thought to be missing in Croydon.

The 24-year-old, of Grays, in Essex, left her family home on Monday, July 4, and was last seen just after midnight in Derby Road, West Croydon, on Thursday, July 7.

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Detectives from the Met’s Specialist Crime Command are currently at a property on the street she was last seen on, in the hunt for Owami.

The semi-detached house has been cordoned off, and forensics teams are combing the building.

Tents have been erected outside, as detectives investigate the missing nurse’s disappearance.

Police are extremely concerned about missing student nurse Owami Davies, 24, from Grays, Essex. Photo: MetPolice are extremely concerned about missing student nurse Owami Davies, 24, from Grays, Essex. Photo: Met
Police are extremely concerned about missing student nurse Owami Davies, 24, from Grays, Essex. Photo: Met

Two men have already been arrested in the Croydon area in connection with the search for her, the Met Police said yesterday.

Now, the force has confirmed a third man has been arrested.

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The 32-year-old was arrested on suspicion of murder on Tuesday, August 2, at an address in South Croydon and remains in custody.

The police crime scene in Derby Road, Croydon, in the search for missing student nurse Owami Davies. Credit: LWThe police crime scene in Derby Road, Croydon, in the search for missing student nurse Owami Davies. Credit: LW
The police crime scene in Derby Road, Croydon, in the search for missing student nurse Owami Davies. Credit: LW

On Monday, August 1, two men, aged 27 and 23, were arrested in the Croydon area in connection with the investigation.

They were taken to a south London police station where they remain in custody.

Police have now also released CCTV footage showing Owami Davie walking with a man down Derby Road, the last sighting of her.

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Owami Davies, right, and the man, left, walking as the white van pulls out in Derby Road, West Croydon, on July 7. This was the last sighting of Owami and police are keen to speak to the van driver. Credit: Met PoliceOwami Davies, right, and the man, left, walking as the white van pulls out in Derby Road, West Croydon, on July 7. This was the last sighting of Owami and police are keen to speak to the van driver. Credit: Met Police
Owami Davies, right, and the man, left, walking as the white van pulls out in Derby Road, West Croydon, on July 7. This was the last sighting of Owami and police are keen to speak to the van driver. Credit: Met Police

As the pair cross the road, a white van pulls out from the parking space to drive off.

Scotland Yard has also released two images of her in a shop on the same night.

Police are urging anyone who saw Owami or has information to come forward, and in particular are hoping to speak to the driver of the white van.

Owami Davies was caught on CCTV in a shop in Croydon on the night she was last seen alive. Credit: Met PoliceOwami Davies was caught on CCTV in a shop in Croydon on the night she was last seen alive. Credit: Met Police
Owami Davies was caught on CCTV in a shop in Croydon on the night she was last seen alive. Credit: Met Police
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Det Ch Insp Nigel Penney said: “We are working hard to find Owami but we really do need the public’s help.

“Owami is very vulnerable and the longer she is missing the more we worry that she has come to harm.

“As a result of extensive CCTV enquiries we have a clearer idea of Owami’s movements, but we still need the public to contact us and tell us what they know.

“We would obviously like to speak to the driver of the white van that passed Owami in Derby Road, but anyone with information should call.”

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The Met has said this remains a missing person enquiry, however detectives from the Met’s Specialist Crime Command are now leading the investigation due to their “resources and expertise”.

Police outside the house in Derby Road, Croydon, during a dawn raid in the search for missing student nurse Owami Davies. Credit: Iman SalahPolice outside the house in Derby Road, Croydon, during a dawn raid in the search for missing student nurse Owami Davies. Credit: Iman Salah
Police outside the house in Derby Road, Croydon, during a dawn raid in the search for missing student nurse Owami Davies. Credit: Iman Salah

She revealed how she saw a stand-off between police and a man, and how detectives dismantled a mattress during a search.

She said: “My heart was racing, I was so shocked.

“Police were chasing him to come out and then the police were there on the other side of the road wearing their body cameras.

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“All the SWAT teams were at the house, from here, the garden, everywhere. They blocked all the windows.

“We know the girl came from West Croydon station to Derby Road and they’ve seen from the CCTV camera, she didn’t exit the road.

“They were searching upside down the whole house.

“They dismantled the mattress. They removed it now but they opened it in half and looked inside it.”

Owami Davies was caught on CCTV in a shop in Croydon on the night she was last seen alive. Credit: Met PoliceOwami Davies was caught on CCTV in a shop in Croydon on the night she was last seen alive. Credit: Met Police
Owami Davies was caught on CCTV in a shop in Croydon on the night she was last seen alive. Credit: Met Police
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Mum Nicol Davies said: “There are many friends and family who love and care for Owami and all of them want to see her safe return.

“Owami - if you see this appeal please believe you are not in any trouble, we just want you to come back to us.

“Please leave a message if you can to let us know you are okay, we are so very worried about you.

“This is such a terrible time for all those who love Owami and I am pleading for anyone who can help find her to contact police.

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“Every day we hope to hear the news that Owami is coming back to us, your help might make it so.”

Any witnesses or anyone with any information is asked to call police on 101 quoting reference 22MIS025307.

You can also provide information anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers.