Detectives in Bournemouth are urgently appealing for help to find 56-year-old Richard Sean Ball, who is wanted in connection with the death of a woman in the town. The Dorset Police Major Crime Investigation Team named Ball, also known as Rick or Ricky, as wanted after the body of a 51-year-old local woman was discovered at an address in Paddington Grove.
Officers were called to the scene at 2.25am on Wednesday 1 July 2026. Despite the attendance of emergency services, the woman was confirmed dead at the address. The death is being treated as suspicious, and a police cordon remains in place while forensic work continues. Ball is described as being around five feet seven inches tall, of medium build, with brown hair and blue eyes.
Chief Inspector Nicola Jenkins, who is leading the investigation, said detectives particularly want to speak to anyone who noticed anything unusual in the Paddington Grove area during the three weeks before the body was found. The appeal covers any suspicious activity witnesses may have seen between Wednesday 10 June and Wednesday 1 July 2026. Officers are keeping an increased presence in the neighbourhood both to gather information and to reassure residents.
A Bournemouth woman aged in her 30s was arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender as part of the initial enquiries. She has since been released under investigation. The deceased woman’s next of kin has been informed and is receiving updates from officers.
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