UPDATE (March 17, 2021): After questions were raised about the disparities between the investigation into Sarah Everard’s murder and the still-unanswered death of Blessing Ayomide Adetutu Olusegun, Sussex Police have issued a statement rejecting claims of racism.
Senior Investigating Officer Detective Inspector Pippa Nicklin said: “I have spoken with Blessing’s mother and explained we remain absolutely committed to finding out the facts of what happened to Blessing.
“This is a very distressing time for her and we are keen to do everything we can so that hopefully she may gain some closure over the death of her much-loved daughter.
“Although there continues to be no evidence of a crime, we are still carefully and fully examining all the circumstances leading up to Blessing’s death, from her arrival in Bexhill, to her leaving the house where she was working and walking to the beach.
“It has been reported that we have not properly investigated Blessing’s death because of her ethnicity and we strongly refute these claims.”
Interest in Blessing’s case was renewed after Ms Everard’s death sparked nationwide attention, which culminated in the recent vigil and protests. Many, including the Lewisham Trade Union Council, have publicly wondered why Blessing’s death didn’t receive the same attention.
Cheryl McLeod, Lewisham TUC president, said: “We mourn Sarah Everard… However, there is another death within our community who, like Sarah, was a woman who was walking alone.”
Lewisham & Southwark TUC issued a statement, saying: “We need justice for Blessing and her family. We need fairness and we need democratic accountability of the police and government.”
Original story below.
A carer from Elthan, South East London, was mysteriously found dead after taking a walk on a beach in Bexhill-on-Sea.
21-year-old Blessing Ayomide Adetutu Olusegun was a business and finance student and had been on a week-long placement in the seaside town as a live-in carer for dementia sufferers.
She had talked with close family and her partner at 1am on September 18, asking them to stay on the line as she walked towards the seafront and last sent a message to a family friend at 1.25am.
Blessing’s mother, Esther Abe, 39, is searching for answers over why her “beautiful, gorgeous and talented” daughter died in an inconclusive and mysterious fashion.
She told the Evening Standard: “I’m devastated beyond words. I spoke to Blessing the day before and she was fine. Then the police came to say she was dead. A member of the public saw her body on the beach early in the morning. I’m a mother and I need to know what happened to my daughter. Did she come to harm?”
A GoFundMe page set up by Blessing’s friend, Christiana Sofolabo, has called for “Justice for Blessing” and suggests a campaign will “march to Parliament” for answers. Christiana wrote: “This case has been very mysterious from the start. We have been informed by the coroner stating that Blessing’s autopsy results came out as inconclusive.”
A Sussex Police spokesman said: “At 6.20am on Friday, September 18, the body of a woman was found lying on the beach at Bexhill near Galley Hill. The body was identified as that of Blessing Olusegun, 21, of Middle Park Avenue, London. Police have been investigating the circumstances and the death is being treated as unexplained though not suspicious at this stage. A post mortem took place on September 24 and further forensic tests are being carried out in order for the cause of death to be established. Police enquiries are continuing in liaison with the Coroners Officer.”
