'We have lost an amazing special person': Family's grief at murder of graduate found dead in her burning car as woman, 32, is arrested for murder
- Catherine Wells-Burr's remains were found in a Ford Focus in Ashill, Somerset, on Wednesday
- Two men arrested in connection with investigation have been eliminated from the inquiry
- Her family pay tribute to their 'bubbly' and 'amazing' daughter
- Business analyst, from Chard, Somerset, graduated from Bath Spa University with a first-class degree
- Detectives appeal for witnesses, describing the killing as 'tragic and brutal'
By LUKE SALKELD and ANNA EDWARDS PUBLISHED: 13:41 GMT, 13 September 2012 | UPDATED: 15:54 GMT, 14 September 2012
Charlotte Wells-Burr's heartbroken family have released this photo of the bright graduate
A 32-year-old woman has been arrested in connection with the death of a young business graduate whose body was found in a blazing car. She was arrested last night on suspicion of murder and currently remains in police custody.
Two men arrested in the investigation of the death of Catherine Wells-Burr, 23, have now been eliminated from this inquiry.Her family issued a statement pleading for anyone with information about the death to come forward.They paid tribute to the graduate, saying that she was 'excited' about her life with a man believed to be her boyfriend, Rafal Nowak.They said: 'We have lost our beautiful Catherine; she was full of character, she was caring, loving, and had a bubbly personality.
'She had a wonderful sense of humour, and was an amazing, special person. 'Catherine had achieved so much in her short life and had worked so hard to gain her Bachelor of Honours in Business Management, gaining a 1st class degree from Bath Spa University. 'She was so happy starting her life with Rafal and excited about their future together.
'We would like to express thanks for all the messages of sympathy and support, we have found some comfort in all the kind and thoughtful words that have been said about Catherine and in knowing how well she was loved. 'We have found this hard to understand why someone would have done this to her.
'There are no words to express how we feel about what has happened to her early on Wednesday morning. We desperately need to know why. She will be sadly missed.' A mysterious figure was seen standing near the car as it burned and there are also reports that a man was spotted fleeing the scene.
The remains of Catherine Wells-Burr, 23, were found in her Ford Focus after motorists alerted police to the flames in a field by a busy country road.A post-mortem will begin today to try and identify how the young woman died.The police are continuing the investigation into her death, which is being treated as murder and are examining whether the bright young woman knew her killer, or whether it was a random attack.
Last night there were fears Miss Wells-Burr, a business analyst, may have met her killer on an online dating site.It emerged that she had once belonged to such a site. Separately, her Facebook page lists her as being in a relationship with a man called Rafal Nowak.
Tragic: A guard stands next to flowers laid at the police cordon of the scene where the body of Catherine Wells-Burr was found
Sealed off: A policeman guards a white tent erected by forensic officers at the site where Ms Wells-Burr's body was discovered
Police described the death as a 'tragic and brutal incident in which a young woman has needlessly lost her life.'
Killed: Business analyst Catherine Wells-Burr was the victim of a 'tragic and brutal' murder, police said
It is not known where inside the car her body was, and police have not said if they know if she was dead when the fire was started. Police were called to the vehicle off the A358 in Ashill, Somerset, at 6.30am on Wednesday. Firemen extinguished the inferno and discovered the body inside.
Miss Wells-Burr had been a member of the dating website speeddate.com with the user name cafx101 – after her nickname ‘Caf’ – and said she was looking for ‘dating and friendship’ although it is not known when she last logged in.
She said she was single and described her 5ft 3in frame as ‘athletic’ and ‘toned’. In her profile she mentions an ex who she considered to be the ‘one that got away’ but said she would not consider contacting him again.A recent post on Miss Wells-Burr’s Facebook page, added on August 25, showed a photograph of a woman reading a book in bed.
Text to the right of the picture reads: ‘You can’t start the next chapter of your life if you keep re-reading the last one.’The Facebook page also lists her as being in a relationship with Mr Nowak. His age is unknown, although he is believed to have worked with Miss Wells-Burr.His last known address in Taunton was said by neighbours to have been empty for some time.The pair were first listed as being in a relationship on Facebook on March 27, 2011 and are then relisted as being together in January this year.
They are listed as becoming friends on three separate occasions, indicating one of them had ‘defriended’ the other twice. This suggests that they may have temporarily broken up. Mr Nowak is not suggested to be a suspect in the crime.Yesterday a friend who did not wish to be named, described Miss Wells-Burr as ‘a lovely girl’ and added: ‘Whoever did this was evil, pure and simple.’Bouquets and heartfelt messages have been left at the scene where her body was found.
Ms Wells-Burr (right) is understood to have been in a relationship with colleague Rafal Nowak (left)
Ms Wells-Burr and Mr Nowak are understood to have worked together at a company in Chard, Somerset
Happier times: Posing with Mr Nowak, who is not suggested to be a suspect in the crime
Miss Wells-Burr lived in Chard, Somerset, with her family, and had a first-class degree in business management from Bath Spa University.She went on to work as a business analyst at local manufacturing firm Numatic International.
Yesterday police said they were seeking information about Miss Wells-Burr’s social life. They also want to talk to motorists who drove by the burning car.Detective Chief Inspector Simon Crisp, of Avon and Somerset Police, who is leading the investigation, said yesterday: 'This is a tragic and brutal incident in which a young woman has needlessly lost her life.'We are working to establish what happened in the early hours of yesterday morning that led to this car being set ablaze.
'I am making a double appeal today. Firstly for those people that may have witnessed Catherine and her red Ford Focus arriving at the scene which is alongside the A358 near Ilminster.'Did anybody see that car arrive? Did anybody see suspicious people arrive or leave the scene at about 6am to 6.30am on a busy road? We need you to call us.
'The second part of the appeal is to help us understand Catherine's private and social life. 'Did she know her killer is the question that we're asking ourselves. Did she arrange to meet somebody at the location where she met her death? These are the things we are seriously considering.
'Please don't leave it to others to tell us, call us immediately.
Ms Wells-Burr pokes her tongue out as she poses for a picture with Mr Nowak
Intelligent: Ms Wells-Burr, who lived in Chard, Somerset with her family, studied business management at Bath Spa University and passed with first-class honours
'The post-mortem examination is yet to take place so I am unable to confirm whether she died in the fire or beforehand. 'I believe we are still searching for the offenders. At this moment there is not a specific person we are looking for.
'There are many lines of inquiry that we are examining; one of those is that this may not have been a random attack and that Catherine knew her killers or killer. 'I can assure you we will find those responsible and bring them to justice.'
The officer has appealed for anyone who might have seen ‘a figure who was standing in a gateway immediately adjacent to the burning car’. He added: ‘We are working on the theory that she possibly knew the attacker.’
Yesterday friends of Miss Wells-Burr paid tribute to her. Jodie Watson wrote on Twitter: ‘Lost for words. RIP Catherine, such a lovely young lady.’ Maurice Hicks, head teacher of Holyrood Academy in Chard where Miss Wells-Burr was a former pupil, spoke of his shock at the news.
'Everyone at Holyrood Academy is deeply saddened and shocked to hear the news about Catherine,' he said. 'She is warmly remembered as a very friendly young person, gregarious and with a great sense of humour.
'Catherine always had a smile and a positive outlook. She was very popular with the other students and had lots of friends. 'Our sincere condolences go to her family and friends at this difficult time.'
Looking for evidence: Policemen search for clues close to where Catherine Wells-Burr's body was found in a burning car (left) while a police community support officer guards the scene (right)
Major operation: Police closed the road while officers searched the scene for clues that could lead them to Ms Wells-Burr's killer
Murder inquiry: Police forensic officers, pictured in white overalls, investigate the scene of the killing
Devastated friends of Catherine placed bouquets of flowers in memory to her at the spot where her burning car was discovered on Monday morning. One heartfelt message read: 'RIP Beautiful.
'Catherine (Caf), it is hard to believe that you have cruelly been taken from everyone at such a young age.
'You were always such a happy-go-lucky kind of girl, so how can someone be so cold-hearted towards you?
'We may not have spoken out of school but I'm glad to say that I had the privilege to meet such a kind caring intelligent young woman.
'Your life was only really about to start, with so many things to look forwards to.
'You will always be missed. It's nice to see everyone thought so highly of you. Keep smiling, we will find who done this to you sweetie. Rest in peace Caf.
'All my love to you and your family, Becky Wood.
'We didn't lose a life, we gained an angel.'
Another tribute left at the sad scene read: 'Caf, rest in peace lovely lady. We will always remember you and your smile. You have been taken too soon from us all.
'Thinking of you, your family and your friends at this sad time. Heaven has gained an angel. Sleep well, we will never forget.
Devastated friends mourn the loss of the bright graduate, who is remembered as a beautiful, caring, loving girl'
Devastated friends of Catherine placed bouquets of flowers in memory to her at the spot where her burning car was discovered on Monday morning
Search: Detectives are trying to establish why Catherine was at the spot where her burning car was discovered
'Lots of love Gem Shaw and family and Chris Fox.'
A third message left on flowers said: 'Dear Caf, you were taken away far too young and in such a horrible way.
'You were always a beautiful caring loving girl.
'I will never forget the laughs we had together, mainly in the pub, and mostly I will never ever forget you.
'You'll always be in my thoughts. Sleep tight angel. Sending you and your family all my love, RIP, Lucy Knight.'
Another sad friend simply wrote: 'Caf, this isn't fair. Words fail me. Sleep well. Xxx'
Friends also took to social networking sites to pay tribute to Miss Wells-Burr.
Polly Derbyshire left a message on the Facebook page R.I.P Catherine Wells-Burr (official).
She said: 'R.I.P Catherine. I'll remember you as bright, beautiful, funny and hardworking. My deepest Sympathy to all of her family.'
Joss George added: 'Although I hardly knew you, I remember you when you were a little girl playing in the garden next door to us. You were such a lovely little girl, singing and dancing. Such a happy child. Life can be so cruel. You will be missed very much.'
Timmy Jay, using the name Timmybadger, tweeted: 'Really shocked and saddened to hear of the tragic death of Catherine Wells-Burr. Caf was a beautiful, sweet person.'
Miss Wells-Burr worked as a business analyst for Chard-based Numatic International Ltd, which is best known for manufacturing Henry vacuum cleaners.
The firm was directing all inquiries to Avon and Somerset Police.
Charlotte Wells-Burr's heartbroken family have released this photo of the bright graduate
A 32-year-old woman has been arrested in connection with the death of a young business graduate whose body was found in a blazing car. She was arrested last night on suspicion of murder and currently remains in police custody.
Two men arrested in the investigation of the death of Catherine Wells-Burr, 23, have now been eliminated from this inquiry.Her family issued a statement pleading for anyone with information about the death to come forward.They paid tribute to the graduate, saying that she was 'excited' about her life with a man believed to be her boyfriend, Rafal Nowak.They said: 'We have lost our beautiful Catherine; she was full of character, she was caring, loving, and had a bubbly personality.
'She had a wonderful sense of humour, and was an amazing, special person. 'Catherine had achieved so much in her short life and had worked so hard to gain her Bachelor of Honours in Business Management, gaining a 1st class degree from Bath Spa University. 'She was so happy starting her life with Rafal and excited about their future together.
'We would like to express thanks for all the messages of sympathy and support, we have found some comfort in all the kind and thoughtful words that have been said about Catherine and in knowing how well she was loved. 'We have found this hard to understand why someone would have done this to her.
'There are no words to express how we feel about what has happened to her early on Wednesday morning. We desperately need to know why. She will be sadly missed.' A mysterious figure was seen standing near the car as it burned and there are also reports that a man was spotted fleeing the scene.
The remains of Catherine Wells-Burr, 23, were found in her Ford Focus after motorists alerted police to the flames in a field by a busy country road.A post-mortem will begin today to try and identify how the young woman died.The police are continuing the investigation into her death, which is being treated as murder and are examining whether the bright young woman knew her killer, or whether it was a random attack.
Last night there were fears Miss Wells-Burr, a business analyst, may have met her killer on an online dating site.It emerged that she had once belonged to such a site. Separately, her Facebook page lists her as being in a relationship with a man called Rafal Nowak.
Tragic: A guard stands next to flowers laid at the police cordon of the scene where the body of Catherine Wells-Burr was found
Sealed off: A policeman guards a white tent erected by forensic officers at the site where Ms Wells-Burr's body was discovered
Police described the death as a 'tragic and brutal incident in which a young woman has needlessly lost her life.'
Killed: Business analyst Catherine Wells-Burr was the victim of a 'tragic and brutal' murder, police said
It is not known where inside the car her body was, and police have not said if they know if she was dead when the fire was started. Police were called to the vehicle off the A358 in Ashill, Somerset, at 6.30am on Wednesday. Firemen extinguished the inferno and discovered the body inside.
Miss Wells-Burr had been a member of the dating website speeddate.com with the user name cafx101 – after her nickname ‘Caf’ – and said she was looking for ‘dating and friendship’ although it is not known when she last logged in.
She said she was single and described her 5ft 3in frame as ‘athletic’ and ‘toned’. In her profile she mentions an ex who she considered to be the ‘one that got away’ but said she would not consider contacting him again.A recent post on Miss Wells-Burr’s Facebook page, added on August 25, showed a photograph of a woman reading a book in bed.
Text to the right of the picture reads: ‘You can’t start the next chapter of your life if you keep re-reading the last one.’The Facebook page also lists her as being in a relationship with Mr Nowak. His age is unknown, although he is believed to have worked with Miss Wells-Burr.His last known address in Taunton was said by neighbours to have been empty for some time.The pair were first listed as being in a relationship on Facebook on March 27, 2011 and are then relisted as being together in January this year.
They are listed as becoming friends on three separate occasions, indicating one of them had ‘defriended’ the other twice. This suggests that they may have temporarily broken up. Mr Nowak is not suggested to be a suspect in the crime.Yesterday a friend who did not wish to be named, described Miss Wells-Burr as ‘a lovely girl’ and added: ‘Whoever did this was evil, pure and simple.’Bouquets and heartfelt messages have been left at the scene where her body was found.
Ms Wells-Burr (right) is understood to have been in a relationship with colleague Rafal Nowak (left)
Ms Wells-Burr and Mr Nowak are understood to have worked together at a company in Chard, Somerset
Happier times: Posing with Mr Nowak, who is not suggested to be a suspect in the crime
Miss Wells-Burr lived in Chard, Somerset, with her family, and had a first-class degree in business management from Bath Spa University.She went on to work as a business analyst at local manufacturing firm Numatic International.
Yesterday police said they were seeking information about Miss Wells-Burr’s social life. They also want to talk to motorists who drove by the burning car.Detective Chief Inspector Simon Crisp, of Avon and Somerset Police, who is leading the investigation, said yesterday: 'This is a tragic and brutal incident in which a young woman has needlessly lost her life.'We are working to establish what happened in the early hours of yesterday morning that led to this car being set ablaze.
'I am making a double appeal today. Firstly for those people that may have witnessed Catherine and her red Ford Focus arriving at the scene which is alongside the A358 near Ilminster.'Did anybody see that car arrive? Did anybody see suspicious people arrive or leave the scene at about 6am to 6.30am on a busy road? We need you to call us.
'The second part of the appeal is to help us understand Catherine's private and social life. 'Did she know her killer is the question that we're asking ourselves. Did she arrange to meet somebody at the location where she met her death? These are the things we are seriously considering.
'Please don't leave it to others to tell us, call us immediately.
Ms Wells-Burr pokes her tongue out as she poses for a picture with Mr Nowak
Intelligent: Ms Wells-Burr, who lived in Chard, Somerset with her family, studied business management at Bath Spa University and passed with first-class honours
'The post-mortem examination is yet to take place so I am unable to confirm whether she died in the fire or beforehand. 'I believe we are still searching for the offenders. At this moment there is not a specific person we are looking for.
'There are many lines of inquiry that we are examining; one of those is that this may not have been a random attack and that Catherine knew her killers or killer. 'I can assure you we will find those responsible and bring them to justice.'
The officer has appealed for anyone who might have seen ‘a figure who was standing in a gateway immediately adjacent to the burning car’. He added: ‘We are working on the theory that she possibly knew the attacker.’
Yesterday friends of Miss Wells-Burr paid tribute to her. Jodie Watson wrote on Twitter: ‘Lost for words. RIP Catherine, such a lovely young lady.’ Maurice Hicks, head teacher of Holyrood Academy in Chard where Miss Wells-Burr was a former pupil, spoke of his shock at the news.
'Everyone at Holyrood Academy is deeply saddened and shocked to hear the news about Catherine,' he said. 'She is warmly remembered as a very friendly young person, gregarious and with a great sense of humour.
'Catherine always had a smile and a positive outlook. She was very popular with the other students and had lots of friends. 'Our sincere condolences go to her family and friends at this difficult time.'
Looking for evidence: Policemen search for clues close to where Catherine Wells-Burr's body was found in a burning car (left) while a police community support officer guards the scene (right)
Major operation: Police closed the road while officers searched the scene for clues that could lead them to Ms Wells-Burr's killer
Murder inquiry: Police forensic officers, pictured in white overalls, investigate the scene of the killing
Devastated friends of Catherine placed bouquets of flowers in memory to her at the spot where her burning car was discovered on Monday morning. One heartfelt message read: 'RIP Beautiful.
'Catherine (Caf), it is hard to believe that you have cruelly been taken from everyone at such a young age.
'You were always such a happy-go-lucky kind of girl, so how can someone be so cold-hearted towards you?
'We may not have spoken out of school but I'm glad to say that I had the privilege to meet such a kind caring intelligent young woman.
'Your life was only really about to start, with so many things to look forwards to.
'You will always be missed. It's nice to see everyone thought so highly of you. Keep smiling, we will find who done this to you sweetie. Rest in peace Caf.
'All my love to you and your family, Becky Wood.
'We didn't lose a life, we gained an angel.'
Another tribute left at the sad scene read: 'Caf, rest in peace lovely lady. We will always remember you and your smile. You have been taken too soon from us all.
'Thinking of you, your family and your friends at this sad time. Heaven has gained an angel. Sleep well, we will never forget.
Devastated friends mourn the loss of the bright graduate, who is remembered as a beautiful, caring, loving girl'
Devastated friends of Catherine placed bouquets of flowers in memory to her at the spot where her burning car was discovered on Monday morning
Search: Detectives are trying to establish why Catherine was at the spot where her burning car was discovered
'Lots of love Gem Shaw and family and Chris Fox.'
A third message left on flowers said: 'Dear Caf, you were taken away far too young and in such a horrible way.
'You were always a beautiful caring loving girl.
'I will never forget the laughs we had together, mainly in the pub, and mostly I will never ever forget you.
'You'll always be in my thoughts. Sleep tight angel. Sending you and your family all my love, RIP, Lucy Knight.'
Another sad friend simply wrote: 'Caf, this isn't fair. Words fail me. Sleep well. Xxx'
Friends also took to social networking sites to pay tribute to Miss Wells-Burr.
Polly Derbyshire left a message on the Facebook page R.I.P Catherine Wells-Burr (official).
She said: 'R.I.P Catherine. I'll remember you as bright, beautiful, funny and hardworking. My deepest Sympathy to all of her family.'
Joss George added: 'Although I hardly knew you, I remember you when you were a little girl playing in the garden next door to us. You were such a lovely little girl, singing and dancing. Such a happy child. Life can be so cruel. You will be missed very much.'
Timmy Jay, using the name Timmybadger, tweeted: 'Really shocked and saddened to hear of the tragic death of Catherine Wells-Burr. Caf was a beautiful, sweet person.'
Miss Wells-Burr worked as a business analyst for Chard-based Numatic International Ltd, which is best known for manufacturing Henry vacuum cleaners.
The firm was directing all inquiries to Avon and Somerset Police.
