The tragic story unfolded on the morning of October 29, 2004, when the woman entered what was then the Wembley Point building (today called the WEM Tower). She spent a short time inside the café before making her way up and leaping from the 21st floor.
Reports describe her as a Black woman aged between 20 and 40 years old. She stood about 5ft 1in to 5ft 3in tall and appeared well-dressed on the day she died.
According to Locate International, a charity that works on missing persons and cold cases, she wore a maroon bomber jacket, black trousers, and black Skechers boots, suggesting she had chosen her outfit with care.
Investigators did not find any form of ID on her. She carried no phone, bank cards, or driver’s license. What she did have with her was a plastic shopping bag marked “CPNY,” $5.20 in cash, a disposable lighter, and an empty pack of 10 Marlboro cigarettes.
She was also carrying a small oil painting, about 2ft by 1ft in size, as well as a copy of The Guardian newspaper purchased inside the building.
The final moments of the Wembley Point woman
Once inside Wembley Point, the woman reportedly took the elevator around 9 a.m. with several employees of the building. Witnesses later remembered her looking visibly upset. One person even tried to lighten the mood by saying, “Cheer up, love, it might never happen,” as they left the elevator (via The Guardian).
After stepping out, she headed straight to the staff canteen. Observers noted her sitting quietly, smoking a cigarette, and flipping through the newspaper she had bought.
Another witness later recalled her final moments and said: “One moment she was sat very still in the far corner of the restaurant. I bought my coffee and as I looked sideways, she was no longer there, with the window ajar.”
Have there been any developments in identifying the Wembley Point woman?
As the 20th anniversary of her death approached, Locate International shared new leads, including a possible conversation with the woman just weeks before the tragedy.
A man came forward to say he had spoken with her outside the building. During their exchange, she allegedly expressed worries about her boyfriend’s health, hinting at personal struggles in her life.
The charity also believes she may have been involved with the Chestnuts Arts & Community Centre in Seven Sisters and possibly connected to cultural groups that supported West African asylum seekers in the area.
