Councillors comment on 'unexplained' death of Wick woman
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
Police Scotland has still not confirmed the identity and cause of death of a woman found in an alleyway on Wick's Murchison Street on Sunday.
The grim discovery came after a 31-year-old mother of four children, Victoria Streight, had been reported missing on Saturday evening and a search involving police and coastguard services was conducted along the coast of Wick Bay in very stormy conditions.
The body of the woman was allegedly found in or next to a wheelie bin in an alleyway off Murchison Street, and close to Wellington Street, shortly after noon on Sunday.
An area at the bottom of Murchison Street in Wick was cordoned off during Sunday afternoon and was a hive of activity as police investigated the discovery of the woman's body.
Ms Streight was last seen leaving her house at around 7.30am on Saturday in the Wellington Street area of Wick.
Caithness councillors released a joint statement in which they talked about their "great sadness about the tragic death of a young woman in Wick".
The statement reads: "For reasons of confidentiality and data protection we cannot discuss the details, but given the amount of speculation on social media and in the press we felt it was important to release a brief statement here.
"We want to be clear that Police Scotland provided immediate, confidential briefings to councillors in Wick and east Caithness and to Wick Community Council over the weekend.
"Police Scotland has always taken the time to keep community leaders updated on deaths like this, and we have a very strong working relationship with them. We are assured that they are taking – and will continue to take – every possible measure to handle this tragic case professionally, thoroughly and respectfully.
"At this time the death is being treated as unexplained, and we would ask the community to please allow the police to progress their investigations. More information will be released if and when appropriate.
"Some of the discussion on social media has been extremely unhelpful and indeed unfounded. We completely understand that this is a matter of great concern to the public, and we are involved in ongoing discussions with Police Scotland, NHS Highland and local community groups about what action can be taken to keep our community safe and enhance local support services.
The message ends by asking the public to "please respect the privacy of this young lady’s family at this time and look after each other".
A police spokesperson said: "Police Scotland can confirm that the body of a woman has been found in the Murchison Street area of Wick shortly after noon on Sunday, November 1.
"The body has yet to be formally identified but the next of kin of Victoria Streight (31), who had been reported missing in the area, has been informed.
"Enquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances and a report will be submitted to the procurator fiscal in due course."
Police won't say if woman's body was found in wheelie bin
