Katie Beattie

Status:

Open

Jurisdiction:

lancashire-police

Death Location:

Lancaster, United Kingdom

Summary:

Katie Beattie, aged 27, was found dead in her flat in Lancaster, Lancashire on July 1, 2024. Emergency services found her almost fully naked, wearing one sock, with bruises on her body. Following a Victim's Right to Review application, Lancashire Police confirmed that the original investigation has been reassessed and further enquiries are now being conducted.

Vital Statistics

Circumstances of Death:

On June 28, 2024, Katie's family had dropped her off at her flat after a 13-day stint at a mental health unit in Barrow-in-Furness. Later that weekend, Katie's parents hadn't heard anything from her and suspected something was wrong. On July 1, 2024, they called the police, and the family claims they refused to do a welfare check. It wasn't until 6pm that an ambulance and fire crew arrived at Katie's flat and found her lifeless body on her bed. Katie was found dead on her bed almost fully naked, wearing one sock, with bruises on her body. Police were aware on the night Katie was found deceased of CCTV footage showing a visitor that had been in Katie's property for a considerable amount of time, the male visitor entered the property on the Friday evening and did not leave until the Sunday afternoon.

Additional Details:

Katie suffered from mental health issues for many years which subsequently led to addiction issues, and Katie was also recognised as a highly vulnerable adult with a diagnosis of autism. Due to there being no sign of a struggle according to the police and the police aware of Katie's history of alcohol addiction they witnessed two empty bottles of vodka on the floor and the police initially classified her death as accidental/unknown and declined to conduct a timely forensic examination as they deemed the death was not suspicious. The coroner's verdict following an inquest held into Katie's death, which concluded on June 12, was: 'It has not been possible on the available evidence to determine how Ms Beattie came by her death.' When Katie's body was in the mortuary, the family say a staff member there confirmed what they had suspected - that there was a puncture mark between her toes. By the time the post mortem took place nine days after Katie had died, her body had deteriorated and toxicology results could not be trusted, her family say. The family believes she was murdered and say they have uncovered evidence which warrants the investigation into Katie's death being reopened. Her family believe she was sexually assaulted, injected with a substance between her toes and left for dead. The family has also launched a petition at https://www.change.org/p/katie-beth-s-law which aims to reform the way unexplained deaths are investigated. Lancashire Police losing CCTV of suspect.

Case Last Updated:

Jun 15, 2026