Toddler found in murder hunt: Body of mother discovered at pub
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Your support makes all the difference.THE SEARCH for the killer of a woman in Liverpool switched to Scotland last night after the victim's 20-month-old son was abandoned by a man claiming to be his father.
The boy, Gareth Johnston, was found in a Citizens' Advice Bureau in Hamilton, Strathclyde, after a tip-off to the Samaritans. When police arrived, they found a note, pinned to his clothing, containing the boy's name and an appeal to take care of him.
Gareth's mother, Denise Johnston, 35, was found dead yesterday at the Lion Tavern, which she managed, in Moorfields, Liverpool. Police said the results of a post-mortem examination carried out last night showed she had been strangled.
Detective Chief Inspector Frank Thompson said: 'We are treating her death as murder and we want to appeal to her boyfriend, David Ashworth, Gareth's father, to come forward.
'We don't think he is necessarily a danger to the public at large, but we are concerned for his welfare. He may not be well.'
Det Ch Insp Thompson said he was 99.9 per cent sure that the child found in Hamilton was Gareth. He said a man claiming to be his father had called the Samaritans three times to say he had abandoned the boy. 'He was very concerned that the boy was being taken care of. Certainly, when he was found, Gareth was safe and well dressed and fed.'
He added that police had received several sightings of Mr Ashworth, 31, in Scotland and Liverpool since Gareth's appearance yesterday lunchtime. Mr Ashworth, from Manchester, did not live with Ms Johnston or Gareth, according to police.
Detectives were travelling to Hamilton yesterday to confirm the boy's identity. Gareth was being care for by Hamilton Social Services Department last night.
Mr Ashworth, who speaks with a Mancunian accent, is described as slim with short dark straight hair, a moustache and tattoos on both arms. Police appealed for anyone with information to contact 051 777 2581.
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