Man charged after body found in Torquay
Detectives have charged a man with preventing lawful burial after the body of a woman was located in Torquay on Tuesday 27 May.
Jamie Stevens, 51, of Reddenhill Road, Torquay, is due to appear at Plymouth Magistrates’ Court today [29 May] charged with the following two offences:
- Preventing the lawful and decent burial of a dead body between 21 May 2022 and 28 May 2025.
- Committing an act or series of acts with intent to pervert the course of justice between 10 April 2025 and 28 May 2025.
Detectives launched an investigation after a missing person report was received in April 2025. During enquiries, officers attended a flat on Upton Road on 27 May where a body was found.
Formal identification is yet to be completed. Enquiries continue in efforts to inform the next of kin of a local woman in her 30s.
A forensic postmortem is due to take place later this week and at this time the death is being treated as unexplained. We are working closely with forensic specialists to determine a cause and time of death.
A scene guard remains in place and police activity will continue at the scene over the coming days.