A woman has been charged with the murder of her mother following their alarming disappearance earlier this year. Emma Nightingale, 36, is accused of killing her mother, Lorna Nightingale, 70, after both were reported missing for several months. Lorna was last seen in Lowestoft in February, while Emma vanished from Colchester in June.
The Suffolk Police launched a significant search operation on August 24, 2023, after the pair had not been located for an extended period. Their search efforts concluded positively when both women were found “safe and well” on September 30, 2023. However, it has since emerged that Emma Nightingale faces serious allegations regarding her mother’s death in London.
Emergency services responded to a call on December 11, 2023, about an unresponsive woman on Blackhorse Road in Walthamstow, London. Despite attempts to revive her, Lorna Nightingale was pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities believe she may have died sometime between November 1 and December 11.
Emma Nightingale, whose residence was also listed as Blackhorse Road, was subsequently taken into custody. She made her first court appearance at Thames Magistrates’ Court on December 13. A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for January 9, 2024, at the Old Bailey in London, where further legal proceedings will take place.
The investigation into the Nightingales’ disappearance involved coordinated efforts from various police units, including the County Policing Command, Missing Person Advisors, and the Technical Support Unit. Partner agencies, such as the British Transport Police and local charities, also provided support during the month-long search. At the start of the investigation, police expressed “particular concerns” for the well-being of both women, as they believed they might have been together in Essex, an area with which both are reportedly connected.
As the case develops, the legal proceedings against Emma Nightingale will undoubtedly draw significant attention, given the tragic circumstances surrounding her mother’s death.
