First picture of ‘salsa-dance loving’ grandmother found dead on London estate

The heartbroken son of a new grandmother found dead in a south London housing estate has said ‘she was the life and soul’ of his family.

Carmenza Valencia Trujillo, 53, had lived in London for nearly 30 years after moving from her native Colombia in the search for a better life. 

After years of working hard as a cleaner to provide for her two children her lifeless body was found on the Aylesbury estate in Peckham, south-east London.

A 40-year-old was arrested on suspicion of murder. 

So far the Met Police said it had been unable to determine a cause of death. 

Ms Trujillo’s son Bryan, 26, told Metro the family needed answers as to how she died at a property in Walworth after saying she was going to meet friends. 

He said: ‘We need to know how this happened. We need answers.

‘My mother hugged me and blessed me as she always did before she went out as she was a very religious person. 

‘That’s the last time I saw her. She went out on a Friday and never came back. A detective came to the door with my sister to tell me, it was beyond belief. She was such a big character and full of life, I can’t believe she has gone. 

‘Our family dog, which she loved so much, still sits at the door waiting for her to return. It’s heartbreaking.

‘She recently had a grandchild, my first son. She was so excited and as a family-loving person she was extremely happy. But now she will not see him grow up which is very upsetting. She had everything to live for.’

He said his mother had worked hard as a cleaner and given him and his elder sister a positive, loving childhood. 

Bryan added: ‘She was a very good mother always working hard for a better life, that’s why she came to London.

‘Everyone loved her, she would do anything for anyone even if it was against her own interests.

‘She was selfless and very popular. She loved salsa dancing and was the life and soul of the party. So many people will miss her, all our neighbours loved her.’

The Metropolitan Police said it arrested the man on 1 April on suspicion of murder and he was released while the investigation into Ms Trujillo’s death continued.

The same 40-year-old man was then arrested on Thursday, 4 September by the Met’s Specialist Crime team on suspicion of murdering Sheryl Wilkins who was found dead with unknown injuries in a B&M car park in Tottenham.

The suspect was then re-arrested on suspicion of murdering Carmenza.

He remains in custody.

Det Ch Insp  Neil John said: ‘No woman should feel unsafe in our city, and we know this news will cause concern across communities. Our investigation is continuing at pace and remains a priority.’

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101.