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Department:
Exceptional Cases
CRIME:
MURDER
Case Officer:
Detective Inspector
Permission:
Public view
CASE IDENTIFIER: 42/7A/LIBRARY AKA:
Profile
Name: Verity Vantini
Mobile Library Stop: Keynsham
Age: 27 (Police note: actually 32)
Job: Social Media ‘Mum-fluencer’
Family: 2 children (Police note: to be confirmed)
Reading: Now You See Me: The Art of Disguise by Cami O. Flage
Reason on Mobile: Regular visitor with children
Suspect Statement
Extract from Suspect Police Statement
Transcript:
Of course, family is everything to me. It’s the most important thing in the world, don’t you think? I just love my family so much. And yes, they are also my brand, but that’s just a bonus to how wonderful they are and how much I love them.
I think that shows in every post, don’t you think? Have you seen my posts? Do you follow me? My Insta is @verityvantini. Maybe later!
Of course, I didn’t know Sykes and all those reporters would be there, ha ha, it was certainly just a massive coincidence that I happened to have a new perfume I’ve been asked to try in my handbag. It’s called ‘Mother’, and it really encapsulates that grounded, earth-mother, sensuality of being a parent, don’t you think? Sorry, did that go in your eye? I think Sykes really liked it. It was a shame he didn’t have time for a picture with it.
Between us, I think he’d been drinking. When I arrived I saw him behind the Mobile Library with a bottle of wine and two glasses – he looked very shifty, like he was trying to hide what he was doing. Such a shame I didn’t get a picture.
Evidence #1
Extract from blog post ’10 Top Tips to Make It as a Social Media Influencer’ bookmarked on Suspect’s phone
Transcript:
Tip 7 – Use your family. Do you want to be the next Stacey Solomon or Rochelle Humes? Cute kids are a great way to build your brand – and generate income. If you don’t have kids yourself you can always borrow someone else’s!
Evidence #2
Three of Suspect’s social media posts from @VerityVantini
Caption:
Evie having a great day! I love my family! 👩👧👦
Caption:
My wonderful daughter Evie enjoying her new book. I love to see them read! 📖
Caption:
Evie after she helped wash the car. Families! 🚗💕
Witness Statement #1
Extract of Witness Statement from the Victim’s Colleague
Transcript:
Well, Verity Vantini comes in for Baby Bounce and Rhyme and Storytime sometimes, I’ve seen her with some of her children. She even took a photo of me reading to them once. Fame! I don’t do social media but Ash found it and showed me the picture.
He thought it was strange because he said the children he saw her with last week were a different age, size and hair style, and didn’t seem to know their own names. He got very suspicious! He thought she might be the same Verity who used to babysit for his little sister a couple of years ago and she didn’t have any children then, so how could she have an eight year old now? He said he was going to find out when he saw her again.
I think he was after your job in the police!
Witness Statement #2
Extract of Witness Statement from the Mobile Library Driver, Sal
Transcript:
We weren’t supposed to be having normal customers at the Sykes press thing but this mum turned up just when all the reporters were leaving and in all the chaos she managed to get on with her kids. She’s one of our regulars – I usually avoid her ‘cos she’s always taking selfies.
But we didn’t have long before we had to be off so I popped my head round to remind Ash, so he could get rid of her, and she was spraying him with some perfume, telling him he’d love it. I only got a little whiff but it smelled funny to me.
I got out of there sharpish, I tell you! No way was I getting sprayed!
