POLICE IN WALES HAVE LAUNCHED an investigation into the murder of 19-year-0ld Nikitta Grender who was found dead at her home by firemen on Saturday morning.
The firemen had been called to a fire at the property on 51 Broadmead Park in Newport.
A post-mortem examination showed that Grender, who was eight months pregnant, died from a stab wound.
Gwent Police say they are still searching for the murder weapon, believed to be a knife, and continue to carry out forensic analysis. They are conducting door-to-door enquiries and have been looking at CCTV footage as part of their investigation.
Appeal
The detective leading a team of 50 officers has appealed to the public, and particularly people who knew Grender, for more information.
Detective Superintendent Geoff Ronayne said police were “fairly certain” of the teenager’s movements on Friday evening:
She went, in her friends car, to McDonalds, they then drove around the Newport and Cwmbran area and she then was back at the flat at approximately 1am on the Saturday morning.
We know from a neighbour that the fire alarm went off at 5.30am. We now know that the fire was started after she was stabbed, probably to disguise the attack, so we are interested in anyone who knows of Nikittas whereabouts or any visitors to the flat or any suspicious activity in the area between 1am and 5.30am to come forward and help with the enquiry.
The PA reports that locals are warning of vigilante reactions if police do not find Grender’s murderer quickly. A neighbour told the PA that emotions were running high in the village.
Grender was two weeks away from giving birth when she died, and had moved to the area several months ago with her boyfriend.
[caption id="attachment_79804" align="alignnone" width="511" caption="Flowers outside the fire-damaged flat in south Wales where Nikitta Grender, 19, was found dead after a flat fire. (Ben Birchall/PA Wire)"]
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