Madeleine McCann 'troll' found dead in hotel room

Brenda Leyland, a woman who apparently 'trolled' the parents of missing girl Madeleine McCann, was found dead after a TV report.

By Dave Lancaster |

15:18 06 October 2014

A woman who was believed to have posted abuse aimed at the parents of missing girl Madeleine McCann has been found dead.

Brenda Leyland was the subject of a TV report by Sky news into 'internet trolls' targeting the McCanns.

When asked by Sky News crime correspondent Martin Brunt why she had used her Twitter to attack the family, the 63-year-old replied “I’m entitled to do that”. When told that she had been reported to the police, she said “That’s fair enough”.

The report aired on Thursday, prompting her to leave her home in Burton Overy, Leicestershire, the next day.

A neighbour confirmed to the Leicester Mercury newspaper: “Somebody took a photo of her on Thursday afternoon and then she was gone. I haven’t seen her since.”

A Leicestershire Police spokeswoman said yesterday: “Police were called at 1.42pm on Saturday to reports of a body of a woman in a hotel room in Smith Way, Grove Park. Officers have attended the scene and a file is being prepared for the coroner. Identification of the deceased is a matter for the coroner. The death is not being treated as suspicious.”

Her son Ben Leyland, writing on his Facebook page from his home in America, wrote: “I love you mum and I will miss you forever.”