Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Edmondsham teenager Rebecca Berry found dead with burn wounds

A relative found the 15-year-old's body on Monday evening

Kashmira Gander
Thursday 04 December 2014 17:18 EST

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Police have launched an investigation after a teenage girl was found dead with burn injuries in a village near the New Forest.

Rebecca Berry, 15 - known as Rebe - was found on Monday night at 9:18pm by a relative outside a property in Edmondsham, Dorset Police said today.

Her death is not being treated as suspicious, a spokeswoman from the force said.

Ms Berry was a Year 10 student at Queen Elizabth’s School in Wimborne Minster.

The teenager’s family thanked friends and the village community for their support, and asked for people to lay floral tributes in their daughter’s memory.

In a statement released by the police, the family said: “We as a family are pulling together to help each other cope with the devastating loss of our beautiful girl and are gathering strength from each other to guide us through this time.

"We would like to thank friends and the village community for their continuing support and kind words.

"The family would like to encourage people to lay floral tributes at Edmondsham Pump to pay their respects to Rebe."

Queen Elizabeth's headmaster Martin McLeman posted a letter to parents on the school website informing them of Rebe's death.

He wrote: “We are devastated by this news and our thoughts are with her family and friends at this extremely sad time.

He added that counselling and support is available at the school for everyone in the community.

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in