Emotional tributes honor ‘beautiful’ transgender girl, 16, found stabbed to death in Cheshire park

A 16-year-old transgender A girl who was stabbed to death in a village park over the weekend is being hailed as “beautiful” and “strong” in tributes that have been flooding social media.

Brianna Ghey was the victim of a “targeted attack” at the beauty spot on the site of an old railroad cut that left those who knew her “heartbroken and devastated”.

Police and paramedics were called on Saturday afternoon after the teenager’s body was discovered on a path in Linear Park in Culcheth, an affluent village near Warrington, Cheshire. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

Officers have arrested a local boy and girl, both 15, on suspicion of murder. They are currently in custody and are assisting the police in their investigation.

The body of 16-year-old Brianna Ghey, from Birchwood, Cheshire, was found yesterday in the park with multiple stab wounds

The girl was found with serious injuries and was pronounced dead at 3.13pm at Culcheth Linear Park in Warrington, Cheshire, according to a police report

“Rest in peace you deserve the world this is so devastating for everyone,” one mourner wrote on Instagram.

“This is heartbreaking,” repeated another.

In a tribute, Brianna – who was born a male but has believed to have been living as a female for a few months – was hailed for her “strength, beauty and transparency”.

“Rest in peace, darling,” said the tribute. “Forever a beauty and forever in our hearts, nothing will ever change that.

“I’m just proud of you for continuing to be consistent, you are so strong, thank you for being with us and thank you for being so transparent with us…”

A gymnastics coach who worked with Brianna when she was younger also paid tribute to the late teenager, telling the Liverpool Echo: “She used to come to the school gym and did gymnastics with us, she was a nice kid.”

Brianna was found dead by members of the public on Saturday afternoon.

Police said it was “too early to tell” what she was doing in the area at the time, but described her murder as “directed attack” on Brianna during a “busy day” at the park.

“A number of investigations are ongoing into this incident and we are doing everything we can to determine the exact circumstances surrounding the incident,” Detective Chief Superintendent Mike Evans said last night.

“At this time there is no evidence that the circumstances of Brianna’s death are related to hate.

“Patrols in the area have been stepped up and officers will remain in the Culcheth area to provide reassurance and address any local residents concerns.”

A floral tribute was placed at the entrance to Culcheth Linear Park yesterday in memory of Brianna Ghey, who was stabbed to death on Saturday

Emma Fortune said Brianna and her mother have been customers at the optometrists she works for since she entered the business seven years ago.

Miss Fortune said: “I last saw her last year. Brianna looked gorgeous with her hair down and her makeup on.

“Her little face lit up when I told her how beautiful she looked. When I found out that she had been killed, I felt horrified. I was so angry. Your mother will be devastated.’

She added that the teenager was a “very quiet” person, probably “because of what she was going through,” but never mentioned being bullied.

A playlist apparently posted by the teenager on YouTube was titled “Songs that heal my traumas.”

A spokesman for Cheshire Constabulary said there was no evidence the murder was a hate crime, but added that detectives were “open” as to whether Brianna’s status as a transgender teenager was relevant to their investigation.

Villagers said the force flooded the area with patrol cars after the discovery of Brianna’s body, with a police helicopter also being deployed. A number of police vehicles remained in the park yesterday while forensic work continued.

Speaking at the cordon, Detective Chief Supt Mike Evans described the murder as a “directed assault” on Brianna during a “busy day” at the park.

He said his officers “would continue to pursue other investigative approaches,” adding it was unclear if the teenager knew her attacker. Investigators did not secure a murder weapon.

Forensic investigators are continuing to investigate the crime scene and the girl’s relatives were informed yesterday

A crime scene exists while detectives work to determine the circumstances of her death

Police officers are pictured at the crime scene at Culcheth Linear Park in Warrington, Cheshire, on Saturday after Brianna Ghey was found stabbed to death in the park

In an earlier statement released by Cheshire Constabulary, DCS Evans said officers were keen to speak to a couple who were wearing long clothing and were seen very close to the scene of the “truly horrific attack”.

DCS Evans said the white man and woman were “late teens/early 20s, both with dark curly hair.”

He added: “The man was wearing a longish hooded dark coat and the woman was wearing a distinctive red or purple black plaid blanket-style coat and a long flowing skirt, dress or trousers.

“We’d also like to speak to anyone who was at the park from around 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. (on Saturday) or anyone who may have seen Brianna in the hours leading up to her death.

“We are asking people and businesses in the local community to review all CCTV or dashcam footage for anything that may assist our investigations.”

During initial searches of the village on Saturday, officials asked villagers if they saw a man in a green coat.

A woman, who asked not to be named, said she heard officers were “looking for a man” before news of the death broke.

She said: “People said the police were looking for a man.

“Apparently officers were asking people in the park yesterday if they had seen a man in a green jacket.

“They also told them to leave the park. I heard later that a girl was stabbed.’

Detective Chief Supt Mike Evans said: “This is a truly horrific attack on a 16 year old girl who sadly lost her very short life. We’re asking for any information that will help us figure out who did this to Brianna.

Officers “would continue to follow other lines of investigation that emerge.” Police said it was unclear if the teenager knew her attacker. Investigators did not secure a murder weapon

Villagers said the force flooded the area with patrol cars after the discovery of Brianna’s body, with a police helicopter also being deployed. A number of police vehicles remained in the park yesterday while forensic work continued

Another villager said: “The park is very popular and is used by walkers, cyclists and horse riders.

“It’s an old railway line with a main path that branches off further down.

“Kids sometimes go through the night with bottles of alcohol. But this is usually a quiet area so it’s a bit of a shock that this happened.

When asked about the man in a green jacket, DCS Evans said the force remains interested in speaking to anyone who may have been in the area at the time who may have information to aid their investigation.

Brianna is believed to have lived in nearby Birchwood with her mother, a food technologist. There was no reply at the address last night.

A Home Office autopsy was conducted yesterday to confirm the cause of death, but police said Brianna sustained multiple stab wounds.

On Saturday night, before the death was confirmed as a homicide, Detective Chief Inspector Adam Waller said that “it is not believed that there is a major threat to others.”

Linear Park was created from the disused cutting that once carried the Lowton – Manchester branch line of the local railway network.

There are several byways leading to other parts of the village, while a wide, flat area of ​​what used to be the station yard is now a picnic area and a popular meeting place for dog walkers.

Ahead of yesterday’s police update, a social media scammer on TikTok claimed that a prisoner from nearby HMP Risley escaped and is suspected of murdering the teenager before he made the escape.

The Justice Department confirmed that no inmate escaped from the Category C prison.

Anyone with information should contact Cheshire Police on 101. Information can also be reported anonymously through Crimestoppers on 0800555111.