The mum of Chloe Watson, who died after being attacked in the street in Leeds has paid tribute to her ‘beautiful princess’ in a heartbreaking tribute in which she said the 16-year-old was her ‘best friend’
The family of a teen girl who died in a street in Leeds has paid tribute to their “beautiful princess” as five people are arrested on suspicion of her suspected murder.
Tragic schoolgirl Chloe Watson, 16, died on Saturday after West Yorkshire Police was called to to Kennerleigh Avenue, in the Austhorpe area of Leeds at 5.55am.
Officers were called to attend reports of a young woman being found unconscious. She was found to have suffered serious injuries and was taken to hospital for treatment, but she was pronounced dead shortly afterwards.
On Monday, flowers were being laid in the quiet street of bungalows, and her distraught mum has issued a tearful statement saying she “cannot put into words” how she fells following her death.
In a statement posted online, Chloe’s mum said: “I cannot put into words how I feel that you are not here with me. You are my life, my world, my best friend and I know that I am yours. I cannot live without you – I need you.
“You are stunning, confident, loyal, honest and my family-oriented princess. When you walk into any room it lights up with your bubbly personality. There is so much I could say. There’s a big hole in my heart that can never be filled. Your two sisters and big brother will always love and miss you to infinity. You will always and forever be in our hearts. Love Mum, Connor, Courtney and Cienna.”
Four people – two women aged 18, a man aged 19 and a 17-year-old boy – were all arrested from a nearby address on suspicion of murder and remain in custody, police said. Police said last night (MON) a fifth suspect, a 17-year-old boy, had also been on suspicion of murder.
Chloe was from Cleckheaton, which is about 12 miles from where she was found. Senior investigating officer Detective Chief Superintendent Marc Bowes said on Sunday: “Following our appeal for further information yesterday, we have now identified the deceased as a 16-year-old girl from the Cleckheaton area.
“Her family have been informed and we are supporting them as they try to come to terms with what has happened. Our inquiries into the incident which led to her death are continuing, and I would appeal again to anyone who was in the Kennerleigh Avenue area in the early hours of yesterday morning to come forward if they have any information which could assist our investigation.”
Messages left outside the bungalows paid tribute to the “beautiful girl”, with one saying: “Rest easy my Chloe. Love you forever my crazy girl.”
Two women taped a photo of Chloe to a box on the roadside as they added to the growing collection of floral tributes, while a single police van remained a few metres away. More police arrived later on Monday and scenes-of-crime officers in white protective clothing went into one of the bungalows.
One of Chloe’s relatives who set up an online fundraising page said on the site that her “life was sadly taken in tragedy, 16 years young, didn’t even make it to her 18th, her whole life was taken in a flash over a boy”.
The relative said: “I wanted to create a GoFundMe to help give her the best send-off possible. She didn’t deserve this. She was so full of life. Such an innocent beautiful soul taken too soon.”
The online appeal had raised more than £10,000 by Monday morning. Anyone with information is urged to call police on 101, or use the live chat options at westyorkshire.police.uk/livechat, quoting log 280 of March 28. Information can also be given anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or online.
