Two Women Face Burial Charges After Body Discovered in Cornwall Car Park
Two women, aged 88 and 53, have been formally charged with preventing a lawful and decent burial following the grim discovery of a man's body inside a vehicle at a business park in Helston, Cornwall. The incident, which occurred in December 2024, has led to a complex police investigation resulting in specific charges against the individuals involved.
Discovery and Initial Investigation
Devon and Cornwall Police were alerted to the Helston Business Park in the early hours of Wednesday, December 18, 2024, after receiving reports concerning the welfare of an individual. Upon arrival and conducting a thorough search of the area, officers made a distressing find: the body of a man inside a parked car. The deceased was later identified through an inquest as Glen Manders, a 66-year-old man from Somerset.
Following the discovery, two women were taken into custody on suspicion of multiple serious offences. These initial allegations included murder, wilful neglect of a person lacking mental capacity, and obstructing a lawful burial. The arrests marked the beginning of an intensive investigative process by authorities.
Charges and Legal Proceedings
After a detailed review of the evidence, police have confirmed that no further action will be taken regarding the murder and wilful neglect charges. However, both women have now been charged with the specific offence of preventing a lawful and decent burial of a dead body.
The accused have been identified as Dinah Manders, 88, of Weirfield Road in Exeter, and Rosemary Manders, 53, of Upton Lane in Ilminster. Both individuals have been released on bail under strict conditions and are scheduled to appear at Truro Magistrates' Court on Thursday, March 26, to face the burial charge.
Police Statement and Ongoing Case
A spokesperson for Devon and Cornwall Police provided a formal statement regarding the case: "Two suspects arrested after a body was located in Helston in December 2024 have been charged. Police were making enquiries in the Helston area in the early hours of Wednesday 18 December 2024 following concerns for welfare. During those enquiries officers located the body of a man in a vehicle in Helston Business Park. A man in his 60s, from the Avon and Somerset area, was confirmed deceased at the scene. Two women were arrested on suspicion of murder, wilful neglect of a person without mental capacity and preventing a lawful burial."
The spokesperson continued: "Dinah Manders, 88, of Weirfield Road, Exeter, and Rosemary Manders, 53, of Upton Lane, Ilminster, have now both been charged with preventing a lawful and decent burial of a dead body. They will face no further action in relation to murder and wilful neglect. They have both been bailed to appear at Truro Magistrates' Court on Thursday 26 March."
The case continues to develop as legal proceedings approach, with the court date set to address the serious charge of preventing a burial, highlighting the ongoing efforts by law enforcement to resolve this unsettling incident in Cornwall.
