Woman last seen on night out in Soho a week ago found dead | UK News
A ‘vivacious, outspoken and glamorous’ woman has been found dead after disappearing more than a week ago.
Natasha Reddington-Romanov, 55, was last seen walking from the jazz club Trisha’s in Soho, London, towards Bateman Street between 1.45am and 2am on September 20.
She didn’t show up to work on Monday, prompting a frantic search for the ‘much loved’ Londoner.
But police confirmed today that a body was found in the River Thames near Vauxhall Bridge, about two miles south of Soho, on Saturday.
‘The death is being treated as unexpected, but not suspicious. A file will be prepared for the Coroner,’ the force said.
Tracy Kawalik, one of Natasha’s closest friends, told Metro yesterday Natasha had eaten dinner in Chinatown with Trish (owner of Trisha’s) and gone back to the member’s club for a drink with her later that evening.
‘She left when the bar closed, around 1.45 to 2am. She walked towards Bateman Street before we believe she turned back to get the bus, which she does all the time to go home,’ she said.
Tracy said no one heard from Natasha over the weekend, but when she didn’t show up for work on Monday, friends and coworkers notified the police.
‘Friends that have known her for 40 years have never known her to meet a stranger and go home with them. She never misses a day of work, no matter how late she was out the night before. She loves working,’ Tracy added.
Friends of Natasha had been worried for her safety because she is a trans woman. Residents of her building in Old Kent Road hadn’t seen her since last week.
Natasha was also in a sound state of mind before she went missing, having made plans with friends for the upcoming week, Tracy said.
‘It is possible but there was no specific signs that she was having any problems with work, or money. She didn’t show signs of depression,’ Tracy added.
‘It’s a nightmare. Everyone is preparing for the worst and hoping for the best. We’re just hoping we find her.
‘Natasha is so vivacious, outspoken and glamorous – and Soho is still so busy at 2am. I just don’t understand how nobody has seen her.
‘It’s possible she’s fallen somewhere, it’s possible someone’s hurt her. It’s possible she’s in a hospital with no ID.
Tracy added that at Trisha’s, a private members club in Soho, where Natasha worked for over a decade, the staff are lost for words.
‘Everyone who’s been here has most likely had a chat with Natasha at one point. She’s very, very loved.’
The police said today: ‘Officers conducting enquiries in relation to a missing person’s report have recovered a body. Officers believe that the body discovered is that of Natasha Reddington-Romanov, a 55-year-old woman that had been reported missing from Southwark.
‘Natasha’s next of kin have been informed of this development. On Saturday, 21 September, officers were alerted to the discovery of a body in the Thames near Vauxhall Bridge.
‘Work was undertaken to confirm the identify of this person. In the interim, Natasha disappearance was reported to police on Tuesday, 24 September and a missing person’s investigation was immediately launched.
‘It was subsequently confirmed that the body recovered was that of Natasha’s. The death is being treated as unexpected, but not suspicious.
‘A file will be prepared for the Coroner.’