A mother has been charged with murdering her 10-year-old daughter Shay Kang in Rowley Regis.
Officers discovered Shay’s body at an address in Robin Close in the corner of a cul-de-sac at around 12.10pm on Monday and pronounced her dead at the scene.
A cordon remains in place at the property while our enquiries continue, and a post-mortem will be held ‘in due course’ to establish the cause of death, the force added.
Shay had been seen playing with children in the cul-de-sac on Sunday evening, just hours before police called to the property.
Shay Kang was found dead at a home in Rowley Regis in the West Midlands on Monday
Shay had been seen playing with children in the cul-de-sac on Sunday evening, just hours before police were called to the property
A photograph of Shay clutching a certificate was placed among the floral and cuddly tributes outside her home in Rowley Regis
Police were pictured at the scene in Robin Close, Rowley Regis, on Monday
Detective Inspector Dan Jarratt, of West Midlands Police, who is leading the investigation, said: ‘Our thoughts remain with Shay’s family and friends. Her tragic death has had a profound impact on those who knew her as well as the wider community.
‘We ask that they are left to grieve in private as our enquiries continue.’
Shay’s school, Brickhouse Primary, yesterday paid tribute to her as a ‘bright, happy, fun-loving child who was well liked by all’.
In a statement issued on its behalf by police, the school said: ‘Our school is deeply saddened by the tragic death of one of our children.
‘Shay was a bright, happy, fun-loving child who was well liked by all, and she will be very sadly missed by everyone.
‘School is the heart of the community and we have already begun working with our children and staff to support them following this devastating news.’
A fundraiser has been launched to cover the unexpected costs of her funeral.
A statement posted on the page, created by locals, read: ‘She didn’t deserve this at all and the best we can do is make sure she flies high in the most beautiful way.’
Locals reacted to the news of the 10-year-old’s death on Monday. One resident, who lives three doors down from the murder scene, said she could ‘cry for’ the little girl.
She said: ‘It’s heartbreaking. I could cry for her [the little girl]. I didn’t know her…but I had seen the little girl out playing last week.
‘She seemed a bit shy but just a normal kid.’
The police cordon around the street sign for Robin Close today
A well-wisher drops a toy unicorn outside the house where the girl was found
Neighbours left tributes to Shay after she was found dead at a house on Monday
One of the tributes to Shay read: ‘You will be so missed by everyone – rest easy princess’
Unicorn teddy bears and other toys were left outside the house where the 10-year-old was found dead
Neighbours left tributes and toys outside the house where the young girl was found
A woman places a card at the edge of the cordon on Robin Close in Rowley Regis after Shay Kang’s body was discovered at a property on Monday
Police say they are not looking for anyone else in connection with the death of 10-year-old Shay Kang (pictured: officers at the scene)
Another resident, who did not want to be named, added: ‘I last saw the little girl a couple of weeks ago walking in the street. From what people say she was a quiet little girl.’
Another woman who declined to be named told the PA news agency: ‘You just don’t think anything like this is going to happen on your doorstep.
‘It’s just absolutely heartbreaking what has happened.’
‘She was a happy little girl,’ another local resident said. ‘She used to play with other children on a mattress or a settee. It’s absolutely awful news that she has died.’
Another woman, Taylor Blake, who has set up an online fundraising page, said: ‘We hope the fundraising page can at least give Shay a good send-off now, like she deserves.’
Well-wishers left stuffed animals and tributes to the little girl outside the house she was found in.
One tribute read, ‘Shay. You will be soo missed by everyone’, while another said, ‘Rest easy princess. Romeo, Jess, Ant and Kyren-Lee.’
A third said, ‘RIP. Gone too soon,’ while a fourth read, ‘RIP. Love from Albert. We will miss you.’