Pitsea: Enquiries forming part of murder investigation continue

Enquiries as part of one Essex Police’s largest investigations this year are continuing, with specialist officers pursuing lines of enquiry today in Basildon.

A murder investigation was launched on 28 July following the disappearance of 30-year-old woman Madison Wright in Pitsea. Madison’s body was sadly located at Wat Tyler Park on 30 July following a large-scale search by specialist officers.

At this stage of the investigation, one man has been charged with murder and a further four people who were arrested have been released under investigation whilst enquiries continue.

This morning, specially trained officers from Essex and Kent Serious Crime Directorate have been carrying out searches in the Pitsea area, in attempts to locate a mobile phone belonging to Madison Wright.

Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Inspector Kevin Hughes said:

“Our investigation does not stop at the point of charge and we have continued to complete lines of enquiry to help us understand what happened to Madison and when she died.
"The team and I remain steadfast in our pursuit for justice, and at this time of year especially, our thoughts & prayers are with Madison’s family, who this year, will be spending their first Christmas without her.
“A key and ongoing line of enquiry, is our efforts to find and recover Madison’s phone. Up until a recent development this was looking doubtful, but we now have information that suggests Madison’s phone was briefly switched on in September and one scenario we are looking to explore, is the potential a member of the public has found the phone.
"This phone still has evidential value to our investigation, but as equally important, are the sentimental photos and videos which may still be recoverable from the device. Given the emotive implications, we would really like to be able to reunite these significant mementos with Madison’s family and if someone has found the phone we need to speak with that person as part of our enquiries. The phone in question was a Google Pixel 4a, similar to the image depicted and may have been in a black case.
“Any information about this mobile phone or further information about Madison’s death, may help us get the answers that Madison’s family deserve.”

Last month, Garry Bennett, 37 of Caister Drive appeared in court where he pleaded not guilty to murder. A trial has been set for Basildon Crown Court on Monday, 13 March.

If you have any information, CCTV, dash cam or other footage in relation to this incident, then please get in contact with us.

Please quote the crime reference number 42/197308/22.

We have set up a dedicated phone line for information: 0207 1267612

We have also set up a special portal through which information can be reported.

You can let us know by submitting a report on our website or by using our online Live Chat service available Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays) between 10am-9pm.

Visit our Digital 101 information page to find out more about our website reporting services.

Alternatively you can call us on 101.

In an emergency always call 999.

If you would like to make an anonymous report you can contact independent charity Crimestoppers, by visiting their website or by calling 0800 555 111.

The family of Madison Wright have paid tribute to a “happy, gentle, thoughtful and kind person”.

Madison, 30 from Basildon was reported missing on 22 July. A murder investigation was swiftly launched, which remains ongoing.

Today, her family have paid tribute to her:

“Madison was the most loving mother, daughter, sister, granddaughter, great-granddaughter, niece, cousin, friend and soon to be aunt.
“Throughout her life Madison was a happy, gentle, thoughtful and kind person.  She was never a fan of being the centre of attention and definitely would not have liked this.
“Our family has suffered a loss that is unimaginable and irreparable, and the void Madison leaves will never be filled.  Her life has been stolen from not just her but from all of us. Her memory however will live on through her son whom we cherish dearly. 
“We will remember every smile, laugh and every moment we had the honour to share.  We will miss you for the rest of our lives Mad.  The love we have for you is beyond words and you will forever be in our hearts.
“Rest in peace Mad, until we meet again.”

Investigating Officers are continuing to investigate to determine the circumstances around Madison’s death, with multiple arrests being made so far.

A murder investigation following the disappearance of Madison Wright continues, with two further arrests being made this morning, Wednesday 17 August. 

Madison, 30 has not been seen since 22 July and her disappearance prompted a large-scale murder investigation, led by Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate.

Since the launch of the investigation, officers have made five arrests. Garry Bennett, 36 of Caister Drive, Pitsea has since been charged with murder in connection with this investigation and has been remanded into custody.

On Saturday, 30 July, officers found a body at Wat Tyler Park but formal identification is yet to conclude. Madison’s family have been receiving support since her disappearance from specially trained officers.

Detective Inspector Kevin Hughes said:

“This investigation has been heavily resourced by Essex and Kent Police, with our team working solidly to determine what has happened to Madison.
“This morning, a warrant was executed at a residential address in Basildon, and we arrested two men on suspicion of assisting an offender.
“The warrant was as a result of multiple enquiries we have carried out, since Madison was reported missing to us. We have reviewed hundreds of hours of CCTV and carried out many house to house enquiries as part of this investigation.
“We will continue to investigate with strong momentum and we remain committed to securing justice for Madison and her family.”

A 27-year-old man and a 54-year-old man, both from Basildon remain in custody.

Throughout this investigation, we have appealed to the public for help by providing further information to assist us. If we haven’t spoken to you and you could help us, please contact us.

A dedicated phone line has been set up and the number is: 020 7126 7612.

We are carrying out searches around the area of the Dipple Medical Centre in Pitsea as part of our investigation into the disappearance of Madison Wright.

There will be a visible police presence in the area over today as specialist officers and staff carry out this work and we would ask that they are given the room to do this.

We are working to keep the disruption to the medical centre itself to a minimum.

Madison was last seen on the morning of 22 July and her disappearance is being treated as murder.

Formal identification of a body found at the Wat Tyler Park on 30 July is yet to be confirmed but we are continuing to provide specialist support to Madison’s family. 

Garry Bennett, 36, of Caister Drive, Pitsea, has been charged with Madison’s murder and he is next due to appear at Basildon Crown Court on Friday 23 September.

We are continuing to appeal for information about Madison’s disappearance and need anyone with any information, who we have not yet spoken to is encouraged to contact us. 

Officers investigating the disappearance of Madison Wright in Basildon, have made a total of three arrests as enquiries continue.

A murder investigation was launched last Thursday (28 July) after 30-year-old Madison was reported missing.

Since her disappearance, we have carried out extensive enquiries including speaking to the community and reviewing CCTV from the local area. On Saturday (30 July), a body was discovered in Wat Tyler Park. Formal identification has not taken place yet and the park remains closed whilst enquiries continue.

On Saturday, a 27-year-old man from Basildon was arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit murder. He has since been released under investigation.

On Monday night,  a 39-year-old woman from Basildon was arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit murder. She has been released on bail. 

Garry Bennett, 36 of Caister Drive, Pisea has been charged with murder as part of this investigation. He has been remanded into custody and will next appear at Basildon Crown Court on Friday, 23 September.

 So far, the local community have been assisting officers with this investigation by submitting information as well as dashcam and CCTV footage.

We are continuing to reach out to anyone who we haven’t spoken to already. We are particularly interested in speaking to anyone who was driving around the Pitsea area towards Wat Tyler Park in Basildon between 8:30am on 22 July and 26 July.

We have charged a man with murder, in connection with the investigation into missing woman Madison Wright from Basildon.

Madison, 30 has not been seen or heard from since the morning of Friday, 22 July. An investigation into her disappearance was launched by Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate and on Friday an arrest was made.

Today, officers have charged a man with murder as they continue their enquiries into Madison’s disappearance.

Garry Bennett, 36 of Caister Drive, Pitsea has been charged with Murder. He will appear at Southend Magistrates Court on Monday 1 August 2022.

Yesterday (Saturday 30 July), a body was discovered at Wat Tyler Country Park. The park and the nearby recycling centre remain shut whilst officers continue with enquiries. 

The formal identification process is yet to take place but Madison’s family have been informed of the development and continue to be supported by specialist detectives.

We have launched a murder investigation into the disappearance of 30 year-old Madison Wright from Basildon.

Madison has not been seen or heard from since 8.30am on Friday 22 July.

Her car, a black Vauxhall Astra with the registration EU13 JVW, was found in Brackendale Avenue on Tuesday 26 July.

She is 5ft 8ins tall, slim, with hazel eyes and shoulder length blonde hair.

She has a dream catcher tattoo on her left arm and a tattoo of a rose on her right hand.

This morning, a 36 year-old man from Pitsea was arrested on suspicion of murder and he remains in custody.

However, Madison is still missing and we need to find her.

Detective Superintendent Rob Kirby, from the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate, said:

“Madison is a young mum, with a family who love her and are desperately worried about her.
“She’s been missing for a week today and is still missing, and we desperately need to find her.
“We have a team of dedicated, specialist officers and staff working to find her and we urgently need anyone with information about her disappearance to contact us.
“In particular we need to speak to anyone who has seen or heard from Madison since the morning of the 22nd or saw her between that point and when it was found on the 26th.
“When she was last seen she was wearing a pink top, black trousers, and flip flops.
“A dedicated phone line has been set up and the number is: 0207 1267612.”