Body in bathtub: Police hunt killer of woman found dead in her bath in Kensington
When police followed a foul smell on a property in Kensington early this year, they found a badly decomposed body of a woman who they believe had been violently killed and left to rot in a bathtub for months before she was discovered.
Sarah Gatt, a mother of four, was found dead in her Kensington flat, on Lambeth Street, the afternoon of January 3.
But detectives investigating her murder now believe she may have been there since April last year, more than eight months before her body was found by chance when passing police officers at the building on another, completely separate, job were taken aback by the stench.
The officer in charge of the homicide squad investgating her death is convinced there was a cover-up.
Police at the scene in January after Sarah Gatt's body was found in a bathtub.
Photo: Darrian Traynor''It’s disturbing and concerning to investigators that it appears someone has deliberately attempted to make it look as though Sarah was still alive,'' Detective Inspector Tim Day said.
Family members will today make an appeal for information about Ms Gatt's death.
What happened to Sarah Gatt?
Investigators believe she died between April 20 and 24 in 2017. Forensic evidence indicated that a violent assault had taken place inside her flat.
Police believe her body was in the flat for about eight months before it was discovered.
Photo: Darrian TraynorThey also believe that her body was deliberately concealed and that conscious steps were taken to imply she was still alive even months after her death.
Three men and two women were questioned at the time of the discovery but no one has been charged.
All five were released and they remain people of interest in the investigation.
“There are people out there who know what happened to Sarah and we are urging them to come forward and speak to police," Detective Inspector Tim Day said.
“We are particularly keen to speak to anyone who saw any person coming or going from her Lambeth Street unit after 20 April last year.
“Police would also like to speak to anyone who was provided any information by any person indicating that Sarah was still alive after that date.
“This could be from a range of people including neighbours, friends, passersby or any local businesses she had contact with.”
Sarah had four children, however, none of them were living with her.
Anyone with information is urged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.