Dorset Police news site

A man has been charged following detailed enquires by detectives into the death of a woman in Bournemouth.

Dorset Police received a report at 2.25am on Wednesday 1 July 2026 that the body of a woman had been found at an address in Paddington Grove.

Officers attended alongside the ambulance service and very sadly the woman, named by her family as Mackala Higgins, aged 51, was confirmed dead at the scene.

Detectives from Dorset Police’s Major Crime Investigation Team (MCIT) have been leading a comprehensive investigation into the death and following their enquiries, 56-year-old Richard Sean Ball from Bournemouth has been charged with preventing the lawful and decent burial of a dead body.

Ball, a British national who gave his self-defined ethnicity as white British, has been remanded in custody and is due to appear at Southampton Magistrates' Court on Wednesday 8 July 2026.

He was also arrested on suspicion of murder and has been released under investigation in relation to this offence.

Officers also arrested a woman aged in her 30s of Bournemouth on suspicion of assisting an offender. She was subsequently released under investigation as enquiries continue.

Chief Inspector Nicola Jenkins, of MCIT, said: “Following a detailed investigation, we have liaised with the Crown Prosecution Service and it has authorised a charge of preventing the lawful and decent burial of a dead body.

“This matter will now be the subject of active court proceedings and it is vital that the judicial process is allowed to follow its course. We would urge members of the public to refrain from any commentary, particularly online and on social media, that could potentially prejudice these proceedings. We would also continue to ask people to respect the privacy of those involved.

“Our thoughts remain very much with the family and loved ones of Mackala Higgins and we have continued to keep the family updated with developments in the investigation.

“A cordon remains in place at the scene in Paddington Grove as our enquiries into the circumstances of the death continue and officers can be approached by members of the public with concerns.”

Detectives are continuing to urge anyone with information that might assist their investigation to contact Dorset Police online or by calling 101, quoting occurrence number 55260097894. Alternatively, independent charity Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously online using its website or by calling Freephone 0800 555 111.