Norma Girolami’s family has made a new appeal for help

MURDER squad detectives are offering a £20,000 reward for help finding the body of a missing 70-year-old woman.

Police have been frank in a new appeal to the public, saying they are looking for Norma Girolami’s remains and that she could have been “buried in a community space or graveyard”.

She has not been seen since last summer when all communication stopped with her friends and family, and she could not be traced.

Her cousin, Pia Graham, said this week: “A number of us in Norma’s family, and her friends, already challenged by daily life, whether it be due to poor health, getting older, or just difficult circumstances, have now had to face this bewildering and painful loss of a loved one who just seems to have vanished and apparently without any clue as to how this happened.”

Her last-known movements were on August 19, 2021 when Ms Girolami, who lived in Highgate, took a train to Barking, and then visited Leigh-on-Sea. She returned to north London later that day.

Ms Graham added: “Our connection to Norma has suddenly been severed. No more cheery emails or funny texts from her to brighten our days. No more carefully chosecards to commemorate anniversaries, or uplifting messages – Norma certainly had a way with words. The person we all loved has just gone.”

Ms Girolami, a parishioner at St Joseph’s Church in Highgate, was reported missing in September.

Police first said that they were treating her disappearance as a murder investigation the following month.

She had left her fridge full of food. Friends and relatives had not been told about any specific plans to go away.

Ms Graham said: “We do not feel we can even have a church service for Norma while she is still missing. The whole situation is heartbreaking, as much as it is shocking.”

Urging anyone who might have any informa­tion to get in touch with the police, Ms Graham described her cousin as a “life-affirming” and “thoughtful” woman who would not have left her family with unanswered questions.

The image of car released in a previous appeal

Ms Girolami used to enjoy shopping at Brent Cross and going to Archway Leisure Centre. Detectives are now asking the public if anyone has seen her at either locations or on public transport.

Detective chief inspector Kate Blackburn said: “Did you meet with Norma in London, at the leisure centre or in Leigh-On-Sea?

“You may have information that could help bring Norma’s family the answers that they so desperately need.

“We are aware of the possibility that her body may have been buried in a community space or a graveyard. Did you see anything unusual in the days following the 19 August 2021, perhaps involving a grey coloured Kia Niro car that we have appealed for previously?”

Previously, Father George Koloth at St Joseph’s paid tribute to Ms Girolami as “a wonderful woman, so kind-hearted”, adding: “I found her so full of life and always with a smile. An exuberant woman. I loved her hairstyle. She was very generous, very friendly and really a great woman.”

Anyone with information can call the police directly, or Crime­stoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

A man was charged with murder last year and is awaiting a trial.