A COMMUNITY has been left in shock after a young mother was found dead at a house in Wrexham yesterday.

A murder investigation has been launched after the body of a 25-year-old woman, named locally as Leah Ingham, was found by police at a house in Montgomery Road, Caia Park, shortly after 1am.

A 41-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder, and the house was sealed off yesterday by police tape as forensics teams came and went.

Her death has shocked members of the local community, with residents claiming they can hardly believe what has happened.

Paying tribute to Leah, who is thought to have two children, Callum, four and Megan, two. One of her neighbours said: “She was an absolutely brilliant mother who simply lived for her children.

“They were the most important and precious things to her and she devoted herself to looking after them.

“We have been stunned to be told this terrible news. I didn’t hear anything at all happening during the night. The first I knew about it was this morning.

“Leah was a lovely person. Her children and ours would play together and we could always see how important her kids were to Leah.”

Neighbour Gail Davies watched numerous police cars and two ambulances pull up outside the house at about 1.05am.

“Not long after I had gone to bed there were flashing lights,” she said.

“The police were shouting something like ‘let me in’ and they ran upstairs. It’s a shock.

“You hear of things happening but you never hear of it on your doorstep.”

Lisa O’Brien said she knew Leah from seeing her in the town and spoke of the shock that she and her fellow neighbours were feeling.

“I have spoken to her a few times,” said Lisa.

“She came across as a nice person and was very outgoing, friendly and chatty.

“She was a very pretty girl.

“You wouldn’t expect something like this to happen to a young girl.”

Leah’s family, who live in the Ponciau area, were yesterday too devastated to talk to reporters about the tragedy.

Workers from the Scientific Support Unit were at the scene throughout the day to carry out forensic examinations.

A neighbour, who did not want to be named, said Leah had lived on Montgomery Road for between 18 months and two years.

She had two children a two-year-old girl and a four-year-old boy, he said.

“It’s come as a shock because you don’t think something like that is going to happen.”

Another neighbour, who asked not to be named, added: “You hear of these things but you don’t expect it to happen on your own doorstep.

“Everybody is shocked.”

Leah worked as a sales associate at jewellers Ernest Jones, in Wrexham town centre.

A spokesman for the company said: “She had worked for us since October, 2009. We would like to express our deep sympathy to the family.”

Leah was a former student at Yale College, which said it was deeply saddened to learn of her death.

“Our thoughts and deepest sympathy go out to Leah’s family at this very sad time,” said Angela Woolrich, director at the college.

Cllr Keith Gregory, who represents the Smithfield ward which includes Montgomery Road, said the whole community was shocked to hear of the incident.

He said: “I didn’t personally know the young lady who died but, as the local representative, I would like to pass on my condolences to her family.

“I was extremely shocked to hear what happened, as was the whole community.

“When someone so young dies it is always a terrible tragedy.”

North Wales Police have appealed for anyone who may have been a witness to the incident to get in touch with officers. They are asked to contact Wrexham CID on 101 if in Wales, 0845 6071001 (Welsh line), 0845 6071002 (English line) or

Crimestoppers on 0800 555111. Alternatively text 66767 or e-mail northwalespolice@north-wales.police.uk.


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