A BODY has been found on a Marbella beach which may be the missing 35-year-old British expatriate Rebecca M., who has not been seen since January 2.
Rebecca had called the police to her house in the Costa del Sol town on New Year's Day when her husband was beating her up, and he was immediately arrested and his wife taken to hospital.
But she refused to give a statement to the police – although in Spain, the forces have the power to press charges for domestic violence even if the victim does not wish to.
She was due to attend his preliminary hearing on January 2, where it would be decided whether he would be remanded in custody, but did not turn up.
Meanwhile, a neighbour called the police because Rebecca's two children, aged eight and 11, were home alone.
They were cared for by a couple who are friends of Rebecca for a few days before Rebecca's mother was able to travel from the UK and take over looking after them.
Police said they did not suspect Rebecca's husband – who is not her children's father – of her disappearance, since he was in custody at the time.
A local resident walking along the El Ancón shore in an area known as Víctor Beach at around 08.30 this morning (Sunday) found the body and called the police.
Officers said it was a woman whose physical features hinted it could be Rebecca, but a post-mortem will be carried out to confirm whether it is the missing British mother.
The body does not show any external signs of violence, according to authorities.
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