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Police name man who died in custody after being held for murder of missing woman

Sebastian Zarnoch was arrested on suspicion of kidnapping and murdering Gabriela Kosilko.

Callum Parke
Friday 08 September 2023 11:52 EDT
(Dave Thompson/PA)
(Dave Thompson/PA) (PA Archive)

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A man who died in police custody after being arrested on suspicion of murdering a missing woman has been named.

Sebastian Zarnoch, 30, was found unresponsive in a cell on Wednesday morning and was pronounced dead shortly after, Leicestershire Police said.

He had been arrested on suspicion of kidnapping 26-year-old Gabriela Kosilko, who was reported missing on September 1 after failing to return home from work the previous evening.

He was then arrested on suspicion of murder when Ms Kosilko’s body was found near Groby Pool, near Leicester, on Wednesday afternoon.

Given the man died in police custody, in line with procedure, a mandatory referral has been made to the Independent Office for Police Conduct, who have begun an independent investigation

Leicestershire Police

Leicestershire Police said officers have established the pair were known to each other.

The force said: “Given the man died in police custody, in line with procedure, a mandatory referral has been made to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), who have begun an independent investigation.

“The force will fully co-operate with this investigation.

“Once all inquiries have been completed, a file will be submitted to HM Coroner and will form part of the inquest process.

“Further information relating to this will be a matter for the coroner’s office.”

We are not looking for anyone else in connection with her death and as such the investigation file will be submitted to the coroner to be heard as part of the inquest

Detective Chief Inspector Mark Sinski

Police are continuing to investigate Ms Kosilko’s murder but said: “We are not looking for anyone else in connection with her death and as such the investigation file will be submitted to the coroner to be heard as part of the inquest.”

The force previously appealed for anyone who was travelling down Newtown Linford Lane at around 2.20pm on Friday September 1, or who saw Ms Kosilko’s red Audi A1 parked on the side of the road, to come forward.

Detective Chief Inspector Mark Sinski, from the East Midlands Special Operations Unit Murder Investigation Team, said: “We continue to investigate the full circumstances surrounding Gabriela’s death so please get in touch if you have any information that could assist.

“We are not looking for anyone else in connection with her death and as such the investigation file will be submitted to the coroner to be heard as part of the inquest.

“We understand local communities may continue to feel the effects of the events of the last few days.”

Anyone who can assist with inquiries is asked to contact 101 quoting incident 484 of September 1.

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