The three women whose bodies were recovered from the sea off Brighton beach have now been formally identified by police as sisters from the Uxbridge area of London.
Emergency services were called to the seafront near Black Rock car park on Madeira Drive at approximately 5.45am on Wednesday, 13 May, following reports of bodies in the water. Sussex Police confirmed that the women were pronounced dead at the scene after being recovered from the sea.
The victims have been named as 36-year-old Jane Adetoro, 32-year-old Christina Walter, and 31-year-old Rebecca Walter.
Their family is being supported by specially trained officers as investigations continue into the circumstances surrounding the tragedy.
In a moving tribute, the sisters’ father, Joseph, described the devastating pain of losing all three daughters “in the prime of their lives.”
“Jane, Christina, and Becky were more than daughters to me; they were my joy, my strength, and the beautiful light that filled our family with happiness and love,” he said.
He spoke emotionally about each daughter’s unique qualities, remembering Jane for her strength and loving spirit, Christina for her kindness and compassion, and Rebecca — affectionately called Becky — for the warmth and joy she brought to others.
“The tragedy of losing all three of you has left an emptiness that words cannot heal,” Joseph added. “Though you are no longer here beside us, your spirits live on in our hearts every day. Love like yours never dies.”
Police say investigations remain ongoing to establish how the women came to be in the water. At this stage, detectives have stated there is no evidence of third-party involvement or criminality.
Specialist officers are carrying out extensive enquiries, including reviewing hundreds of hours of CCTV footage, speaking with businesses and residents in the area, and tracing the sisters’ final movements in Brighton before their deaths.
Sussex Police have appealed to members of the public who may have information to assist the investigation, particularly anyone who may have seen the three women in the Madeira Drive area between 10pm on Tuesday, 12 May, and 5.30am on Wednesday, 13 May.
Chief Superintendent Adam Hays described the incident as a “devastating loss” and assured the public that investigators are committed to uncovering the full circumstances surrounding the tragedy.
“Our thoughts are with the family of Jane, Christina and Rebecca,” he said. “We will leave no stone unturned in our investigation to understand exactly what led to the tragic events of that morning.”
