Bella

In 1943 a woman’s body was found by chance in the hollow of a tree in Hagley Wood, West Midlands, UK. Subsequent police investigations have failed to identify either the murdered woman or her murderer(s). This has led to much speculation and rumour and forms the basis for this series of photographs.

Bella is the name that has been given to the murdered woman and appears in graffiti relating to the murder. The name Bella references the association of witches with the plant Belladonna (Deadly Nightshade).

Bella has been accused of wartime espionage and witchcraft, neither of which can be substantiated. 75 years later in 2018 the case came to the public’s attention again as her face has been recreated using photographs of the skull that was found in the wych elm tree.