Woman still missing after man charged with double murder

The Met is searching for the body of a 48-year-old woman after charging a man with two murders.

Carl Cooper, 65, of Broadfield Road, Catford, was charged with the murders of 41-year-old Naomi Hunte and 48-year-old Fiona Holm on Thursday.

He appeared at Bromley Magistrates’ Court on Friday and was remanded in custody to appear at the Old Bailey tomorrow.

Ms Holm was reported missing on June 29 and was last seen at an off licence in Verdant Lane, Catford, on the evening of June 20. She has not been heard from since.

The image of Ms Holm in the off licence may show what she was wearing when she disappeared.

Ms Holm’s disappearance was initially treated as a missing person investigation, but was transferred to the Met’s Specialist Crime Command on Tuesday due to the out-of-character nature of her disappearance, and the amount of time since she had last been seen alive.

Detective Chief Inspector Kate Blackburn, leading the investigation, said: “We have charged a man with Ms Holm’s murder and the murder of Ms Hunte.

“Prior to this development a missing person investigation was undertaken in the hope of finding Ms Holm alive.

“My thoughts are with the family and friends of Ms Holm, and of course Ms Hunte’s family and friends at this incredibly difficult time.

“My officers will continue to support the families of both women.

“Ms Holm is a well-known and active member of the community in the Lewisham and Blackheath area. I am keen to hear from anyone who saw Ms Holm since June 20.

“We are piecing together a timeline of what may have been her last movements, and your information, no matter how small, could help us establish what happened to her.”

Ms Hunte was found dead after police were called to an address in Congleton Grove, Woolwich at around 8.30am on February 14, 2022.

A post-mortem examination took place on February 16 at Greenwich mortuary and gave cause of death as a stab wound.

Cooper was originally arrested on February 18, 2022, on suspicion of Ms Hunte’s murder and subsequently bailed pending further enquiries, before being released under investigation. Cooper was not on bail at the time of Ms Holm’s disappearance.

On Tuesday, Cooper was arrested on suspicion of Ms Holm’s murder, and subsequently charged with the murder of both Ms Hunte and Ms Holm. Cooper is known to both women.

DCI Blackburn said: “We are continuing to carry out a number of searches to locate Ms Holm’s body at an address and open land in the Catford area.