Lamduan Armitage's body was found in the Three Peaks area

Detectives from North Yorkshire have flown to Thailand as part of their investigation into the death of a woman whose body was found in the Yorkshire Dales.

The identity of Lamduan Armitage remained unknown for almost 15 years until a cold-case team had a breakthrough in 2019.

After her discovery by walkers near the Pennine Way on the flanks of Pen-y-ghent in September 2004, she became known as ‘the Lady of the Hills’. Residents and the parish council at nearby Horton in Ribblesdale raised the money for her burial and a headstone in the graveyard of St Oswald’s Church in the village.

North Yorkshire Police launched a major media campaign in 2018 to publicise the case, including messages on social media in English, Filipino, and Thai, leading to detectives being contacted by the family of Ms Armitage, whose maiden name was Seekanya, from Udon Thani province in north-east Thailand.

Fingerprint matches and DNA tests confirmed her identity.

She was married, and had three children. She spent time between 1991 and 2004 at various locations in England: Portsmouth, Rugby and Preston and is also believed to have visited Thailand between 2003 and 2004. She would now be 55.

A post-mortem examination was unable to determine the cause of death, but officers do not believe she succumbed to hypothermia or other natural causes and are treating Ms Armitage’s death as potential homicide.

Now, a small team of cold case detectives and family-liaison officers from North Yorkshire Police have arrived in Thailand to meet the parents and other family members of Lamduan Armitage as part of the investigation into her death.

There were delays for the team to receive the legal authority to go to Thailand.

Walkers discovered the body near Sell Gill Holes, above Horton in Ribblesdale. Photo: Bob Smith/grough

They were further hampered by international travel restrictions due to the Covid-19 pandemic, meaning this part of the investigation has been put on hold for almost four years.

Adam Harland, manager of the cold case review unit, said: “Despite the difficulties we have faced to progress the investigation in recent years, we remain determined to seek answers for Lamduan’s family about the circumstances of her being found dead in a beautiful but remote part of the Yorkshire Dales in September 2004.

“It has been frustrating to have had to wait so long to be able to travel to Thailand. We are hoping to speak with all the members of her family, including her husband, to gather their evidence about her life and to offer what support we can with regards to their loss.

“The loss of any family member in circumstances of homicide is a terrible blow, bringing a misery and a sense of loss that so often lasts a lifetime.

“There is, in this case, the additional pain that for 14 years it was not even known that this had been Lamduan’s fate.

“We will also be consulting with all the family members about a request that Lamduan’s remains be returned to her family in Thailand in accordance with their Buddhist faith.

“This is not a straightforward process to achieve, but they will have our assistance and support in bringing a resolution to this particularly unhappy case.

“We thank the Thai authorities for their co-operation with the investigation, and for the support we are receiving from law enforcement agencies in Thailand and United Kingdom.”

Police also appealed to the public not to speculate about the circumstances of Ms Armitage’s death.

Mr Harland said: “North Yorkshire Police is aware of the widespread interest in this investigation which strikes at the heart of issues surrounding violence against women and girls in the United Kingdom, in Thailand, and around the world.

“To ensure that the investigation and the path of fair justice are not compromised, we strongly urge the media and people using social media to avoid damaging speculation about this case.

“We are doing all we can to seek answers and secure justice for Lamduan’s loved ones.

“After almost 19 years, during which time the community of Horton in Ribblesdale have shown respect and care for Lamduan when she was only known as the Lady of the Hills, it would be a tragedy if we were prevented from achieving this outcome due to damaging reporting and online speculation.”

Anyone with information that may help the investigation is asked to phone the North Yorkshire Police incident room on 01609 643147 (with the prefix +44 before the number if calling from outside the UK). Officers said people should leave a voicemail message including contact information if requested. People can also email the team. Members of the public are asked to quote the reference number 12170002439 when providing information about the case.

Information can also be supplied anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555111 or by going to crimestoppers-uk.org