Was internet dating behind murder at Cherry Tree Cottage? Police arrest man after woman, 44, is found dead by colleague who came to pick her up for work

A woman suspected of being murdered in her idyllic cottage was a prolific user of dating websites, it emerged last night.
The body of Debbie Levey, 44, was found slumped in front of the TV by a colleague who called in to give her a lift to work.
Police originally believed the divorcee died of natural causes – she had had cancer surgery and was off work until last week.
But detectives launched a murder inquiry after uncovering evidence of foul play.
Last night they were questioning a 45-year-old man, believed to be her on-off boyfriend, on suspicion of murder.
Mrs Levey lived with her 16-year-old daughter Jade in £300,000 Cherry Tree Cottage in East Ashling, near Chichester, in the South Downs National Park.
Murder squad detectives are working to untangle the complex personal life of the popular twice-married mother and care home manager.
Mrs Levey was a regular user of dating websites and friends said she had been in several relationships over the past year.
A keen horse rider, she posted online photographs of herself out with friends and answered personal questions in an anonymous singles forum.
But it is believed she also met men, including the suspect in custody, who lives in nearby Selsey, through her extensive network of friends.

 

Mrs Levey was discovered dead shortly before 8am on Monday at her semi-detached home of ten years on a quiet country lane.
She had suffered no obvious injuries and friends told police the last time she was seen alive was around lunchtime on Sunday.

 

 

Investigation: A colleague of Deborah Levey (pictured) found her body at her home in Ashling, Chichester 
Detective Chief Inspector Ian Pollard, of the Surrey and Sussex major crime team, said officers became ‘increasingly suspicious’ after being called in by paramedics.
‘As yet, the cause of her death is unexplained and we are awaiting the results of a post-mortem examination,’ he said. ‘Our inquiries lead us to believe that this was not a natural death and a murder inquiry has been launched.’
Eric Bulbeck, a 77-year-old farmer who owns the cottage, said Mrs Levey was found by a colleague who let herself in through an unlocked door.

 

Friends have been leaving condolence messages at the home of Deborah Levey

 

A 45-year-old man from Selsey, who was known to the woman, was arrested last night on suspicion of her murder

 

Crime scene: Police officers seal off Cherry Tree Cottage in Ashling, West Sussex, after the body of a woman named as Debbie Levey was found on Monday
‘Debbie’s manager came round to pick her up, they were going to London for a meeting,’ he added.
‘She waited outside the house then phoned her but got no response. She went round the back and the door was unlocked and that was when she saw her.
‘She came back here and I had to go in to confirm it. She was just sitting on the settee with a rug around her shoulders.

 

Forensic investigation: Police officers enter the house to gather evidence in the murder investigation

 

 

‘The television was on the standby screen as if it had been on. It was horrifying – she has been a friend for a long time and my wife is friendly with her.’  Mr Bulbeck said his tenant had been seeing a man who worked as a taxi driver in Selsey, near Chichester.

The body of Deborah Levey is carried out of her home

He added that Mrs Levey was a ‘good friend, a brilliant tenant and a lovely lady’ who was known for being excellent at her job.
Police want to trace anyone who saw a blue Vauxhall Vectra parked in a small lay-by on the opposite side of the road to her home. Mrs Levey lived alone after splitting from her second husband, Gareth Allen, 44, who lives in Selsey with his second wife Sharron.
Louise Chater, her former sister-in-law, said the couple remained on good terms and continued to share the responsibility of bringing up Jade, a college student.
She added: ‘Debbie was a kind and beautiful person. She was a proud mother and had brought up a beautiful daughter.’
Mrs Levey worked as a manager at the Leaholme care home and assisted living accommodation for elderly people in Chichester.
A former colleague said she seemed to be ‘upbeat’ about returning to work.
He said: ‘In recent months she had been dating a few guys, her status on Facebook had gone from being in a relationship to single on a number of occasions.’
Another friend said Mrs Levey was diagnosed with cervical cancer last year and had a hysterectomy just before Christmas.

Anyone with information is asked to call Sussex Police on 101, quoting Operation Dive, or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

 

An officer speaks to a woman who left flowers at the home of Deborah Levey in Ashling, near Chichester