‘Lady of the Hills’ cold case enquiries completed in Thailand
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Cold case detectives and family liaison officers from North Yorkshire Police have completed enquiries in Thailand as part of the ongoing investigation into the death of Lamduan Armitage (nee Seekanya) in the Yorkshire Dales in 2004.
Lamduan’s body was found by walkers at Sell Gill near Pen-y-ghent, above Horton in Ribblesdale, on 20 September that year.
Her identity remained unknown until early 2019 when the force’s Major Investigation Team’s Cold Case Review Unit achieved a breakthrough using a combination of media coverage and DNA testing.
A BBC Online article about the case in the January of that year was brought to the attention of Lamduan’s parents in Udon Thani, north-east Thailand.
They came forward to North Yorkshire Police believing the woman could be their daughter who they had not seen since 2004.
DNA testing was carried out which confirmed the woman to be Lamduan who would now be aged 55.
It was established that she was married mother of three who was living in northern England at the time of her unexplained death.
This breakthrough was publicised by North Yorkshire Police on 19 March 2019 which resulted in extensive national and international coverage about the case.
However, there were delays for the investigation team to receive legal authority to go to Thailand.
They were further hampered by international travel restrictions due to the Covid-19 pandemic, meaning this part of the investigation has been put on hold for almost four years.
Thailand enquiries between 13 and 24 February 2023
During the past two weeks, the small team of detectives and family liaison officers have been able to visit Lamduan’s parents, Buasa and Joomsri Seekanya, in Udon Thani, north-east Thailand.
They have been able to observe and assist enquiries being undertaken by the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) following an International Letter of Request from the United Kingdom to the Royal Thai authorities.
That request has included seeking interviews from witnesses in Udon Thani, Bangkok and Kanchanaburi.
Adam Harland, Manager of the Cold Case Review Unit, said:
“Being able to have these enquiries conducted in Thailand is an important stage of the cold case investigation as we continue to search for the truth about what happened to Lamduan almost 19 years ago in the UK”.
“Warm thanks and appreciation” for the caring community of Horton in Ribblesdale
During their meeting with family liaison officers, Lamduan’s parents were handed a memorial book that was put together by North Yorkshire Police.
This included photographs of the funeral service held in Horton in Ribblesdale in 2007 which was arranged and paid for by residents.
Family Liaison Officer, Julie Hughes, gives Mr and Mrs Seekanya a memorial book that was put together by North Yorkshire Police to show how Lamduan was treated with dignity and care throughout the investigation.
Mr Harland said:
“We wanted to show Lamduan’s parents the care and respect shown by the good people of Horton in Ribblesdale towards their daughter throughout the investigation, particularly during that long period of time when she was unidentified and known only as the ‘Lady of the Hills’.
“Mr and Mrs Seekanya were deeply moved by this and they asked for their warm thanks and appreciation to be passed on to the residents of Horton in Ribblesdale.”
Mr Harland added:
“We would like to express our thanks to the staff from the DSI for their professional and diligent approach to interviewing the witnesses, and we are pleased to have been of some assistance in their work. The municipal authorities at Udon Thani and Kanchanaburi could not have been more welcoming and helpful towards both teams.
“Throughout the extended length of this case, we have had the full support of the National Crime Agency (NCA) staff based in Bangkok, for which we are most grateful.
“It is unfortunate that we have not been able to be present at interviews with all the family members resident in Thailand, and this has also meant that we have had little opportunity to seek the views of the whole family around the issues of Lamduan’s remains.
“We are confident that these are matters will continue to be thoroughly progressed by the DSI.”
Issued on 13 February 2023
North Yorkshire Police’s ‘Lady of the Hills’ case heads to Thailand
A small team of cold case detectives and family liaison officers from North Yorkshire Police have arrived in Thailand to meet the parents and other family members of Lamduan Armitage (nee Seekanya) as part of the ongoing investigation into her death.
Lamduan’s body was found by walkers at Sell Gill near Pen-y-ghent, above Horton in Ribblesdale in the Yorkshire Dales, on 20 September 2004.
Her identity remained unknown until early 2019 when the force’s Major Investigation Team’s Cold Case Review Unit achieved a breakthrough using a combination of media coverage and DNA testing.
A BBC Online article about the case in the January of that year was brought to the attention of Lamduan’s parents in Udon Thani, north-east Thailand.
They came forward to North Yorkshire Police believing the woman could be their daughter who they had not seen since 2004.
DNA testing was carried out which confirmed the woman to be Lamduan who would now be aged 55.
It was established that she was married mother of three who was living in northern England at the time of her unexplained death.
This breakthrough was publicised by North Yorkshire Police on 19 March 2019 which resulted in extensive national and international coverage about the case.
However, there were delays for the investigation team to receive legal authority to go to Thailand.
They were further hampered by international travel restrictions due to the Covid-19 pandemic, meaning this part of the investigation has been put on hold for almost four years.
Adam Harland, Manager of the Cold Case Review Unit, said:
“Despite the difficulties we have faced to progress the investigation in recent years, we remain determined to seek answers for Lamduan’s family about the circumstances of her being found dead in a beautiful but remote part of the Yorkshire Dales in September 2004.
“It has been frustrating to have had to wait so long to be able to travel to Thailand. We are hoping to speak with all the members of her family, including her husband, to gather their evidence about her life and to offer what support we can with regards to their loss.
“The loss of any family member in circumstances of homicide is a terrible blow, bringing a misery and a sense of loss that so often lasts a lifetime.
“There is, in this case, the additional pain that for 14 years it was not even known that this had been Lamduan’s fate.
“We will also be consulting with all the family members about a request that Lamduan’s remains be returned to her family in Thailand in accordance with their Buddhist faith.
“This is not a straightforward process to achieve, but they will have our assistance and support in bringing a resolution to this particularly unhappy case.
“We thank the Thai authorities for their co-operation with the investigation, and for the support we are receiving from law enforcement agencies in Thailand and United Kingdom.”
Request to avoid damaging speculation about the investigation
Mr Harland said:
“North Yorkshire Police is aware of the widespread interest in this investigation which strikes at the heart of issues surrounding violence against women and girls in the United Kingdom, in Thailand, and around the world.
“To ensure that the investigation and the path of fair justice are not compromised, we strongly urge the media and people using social media to avoid damaging speculation about this case.
“We are doing all we can to seek answers and secure justice for Lamduan’s loved ones.
“After almost 19 years, during which time the community of Horton in Ribblesdale have shown respect and care for Lamduan when she was only known as the ‘Lady of the Hills’, it would be a tragedy if we were prevented from achieving this outcome due to damaging reporting and online speculation.”
Making a report to assist the investigation
- Call the North Yorkshire Police incident room on 01609 643147 (put +44 before the number if calling from outside the UK) – please leave a voicemail message including contact information if requested
- Email: [email protected]
- If you would prefer to remain anonymous, please contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555111 or go to crimestoppers-uk.org
- Please quote the North Yorkshire Police reference number 12170002439 when providing information about this case
Pooled media interview courtesy of BBC Yorkshire - this can be edited and used by other media outlets without credit