Police ‘to dig for missing student’s body’ after serial killer Levi Bellfield ‘confesses’

Metropolitan police detectives in contact with family of Elizabeth Chau, who vanished 24 years ago

Serial killer Levi Bellfield is serving two whole-life sentences (PA Media)

Police are reportedly preparing to dig for the remains of a missing student, after serial killer Levi Bellfield allegedly confessed to her murder.

Bellfield, who is serving two whole-life sentences for murdering three people including 13-year-old Milly Dowler, told detectives this week he had hidden a body in woodland 24 years ago, The Guardian reported.

Elizabeth Chau, a computer studies student at Thames Valley University, was last seen in Ealing, west London, on 16 April 1999.

Missing student Elizabeth Chau (PA)

During the interview under criminal caution, Bellfield allegedly named a location in west London where he claims to have disposed of Ms Chau’s body, the paper reported on Thursday.

The Met Police have not confirmed a Sky News report on Friday that a dig is due to take place, but said it remained in contact with Ms Chau’s family,

Bellfield’s solicitor Theresa Clark told Sky News: “He tells me he feels it’s important that her family have some closure.

“He wants to see justice done because they have had to live this for so long and that’s unfair. He gains nothing from it, there is no positive publicity for him.”

Bellfield, now 54, killed Milly Dowler in Surrey in 2002. He murdered Marsha McDonnell, 19, in west London, in 2003 and Amelie Delagrange, 22, a French student, the year after.

Levi Bellfield was found guilty of abducting and killing schoolgirl Milly Dowler following a trial in 2011 (Surrey Police/PA)

He was convicted of the attempted murder of Kate Sheedy in May 2004, and claims to have carried out six other attacks on women who survived.

A Met Police spokesperson said: “On Tuesday 9 May 2023, a 54-year-old male was interviewed under caution. Inquiries continue.

“We can confirm we remain in contact with Elizabeth Chau’s family.

“At this time we will not be providing an ongoing commentary. We have no comment to make.”