Families taking part in teddy bear hunt find suitcase with body inside: Two men arrested on suspicion of murder

By OLIVIA CHRISTIE, NEWS REPORTER Published: 18:58, 11 July 2026 | Updated: 19:05, 11 July 2026 A murder probe has been launched after families taking part in a teddy bear hunt found a suitcase with a body inside.  Police were called to Borstal Recreation Ground in Rochester, Kent, on Friday following the discovery of the case that was reportedly covered in 'hundreds of flies'.  Earlier, officers arrested two men who had attended Medway Police Station in Gillingham on suspicion of murder. The suspects, aged 27 and 32, remain in custody. The investigation began 30 miles away at around 11pm on Thursday when police received a report of a potential murder at a house in Wandsworth, south west London.  Officers attended the scene, but no one was found inside the property. After carrying out a search, they came to believe someone had come to harm at the address and an investigation was launched. The victim and the two men arrested on Friday were known to each other, the Metropolitan Police said.  Police were called to Borstal Recreation Ground in Rochester, Kent, on Friday following the discovery of the case that was reportedly covered in 'hundreds of flies' Police have been combing Borstal Recreation Ground and a cordon remained in place today A third man was arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender and has since been bailed.  Police have been combing Borstal Recreation Ground and a cordon remained in place today.  One resident, who wished to remain anonymous, was at the park attending a teddy bear hunt organised as a fundraiser for a local nursery when the suitcase was discovered.  She told KentOnline: 'I saw the luggage before the police. I was with my niece and nephew, so I was busy keeping them from seeing it. 'What I saw was the suitcase covered in hundreds of flies. I actually heard the buzzing from them first.  'I noticed that it was a large suitcase and had a snow sledge next to it.' Reacting to the incident, Rochester and Strood MP Lauren Edwards described the news as 'distressing'. She said: 'My thoughts are with the victim's family. 'The Met Police have made two arrests and do not believe there is any wider risk to the public, but Kent Police will be stepping up their community engagement in the Borstal area, which I welcome.' Residents have described the scale of the police investigation in the area as 'unusual'. Demi Flemings, 23, said it was 'a bit too close to home', adding 'it's a bit weird that it's all about something happening in Wimbledon'. 'Police come down here sometimes but not for something like this,' she said.  Another resident, who did not want to be named but has lived close by for nine years, said he was 'surprised' by the news. Detective Inspector Ben Dalloway, who is leading the investigation, said: 'Our thoughts remain with the victim's family who are understandably distraught at their loss.  'We will continue to offer them every support. 'This has been a fast-moving investigation and we are working tirelessly to establish the exact circumstances of the incident. 'Although we have made two arrests and do not believe there is any wider risk to the public, we would ask that anyone with information comes forward to police as soon as possible by calling 101 with CAD 9504/9JUL.' Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.