Police are looking for a person needed on suspicion of homicide after a lady died in a home fireplace in Stoke-on-Trent.
Georgian Constantin, 42, is believed to have travelled to London, and is sought in reference to the dying of his former spouse Valentina Cozma, 40, in a blaze final week.
She had a teenage son, and her sister described her as “a supportive caring girl who at all times tried to maintain the household collectively”.
Ch Supt Colin Mattinson, of Staffordshire police, mentioned: “My ideas are with Valentina’s family members, and particularly her younger son at this deeply traumatic time.
“I do know the area people are in shock that somebody inside their group has died in such terrible circumstances. We take a agency stance towards violence towards girls and home abuse.”
“A teenage boy has misplaced his mom, we have to safe justice for him, Valentina, and her wider household,” he added, urging anybody with data to get in contact with police.
Cozma died after a fireplace at her house in Stoke at about 3pm on Thursday. A postmortem recorded smoke inhalation as the reason for dying.
In a tribute issued on Monday, her sister mentioned: “Vali was the particular person I may discuss to about something. She provided me help at any time when I wanted it. She at all times tried to maintain the household collectively. Being an older sister, she made certain we didn’t lack something, even when she didn’t have a factor.
“She went via plenty of arduous instances, but she by no means gave up. I’m interesting for assist from anybody who has particulars that would assist in fixing this case.”
Police mentioned Cozma and Constantin, who each got here to the UK from Romania in 2017, had been separated for about three years and shared custody of their 16-year-old son.
Mattinson mentioned Cozma “was a quiet girl who was properly preferred amongst her neighbours having lived within the space for some years”.
Police mentioned they believed Constantin had travelled to London from Stoke and that he additionally had hyperlinks to Southampton. They urged the general public to not strategy him, and to name 999 instantly together with his location if sighted.
“We’re working across the clock to hint Constantin. However we additionally want your assist – so my plea is to anybody who has data, irrespective of how insignificant it might appear – to get in contact,” Mattinson mentioned.
“I’m additionally interesting to Constantin himself, or anybody who could also be harbouring him to get in contact. Working away is just not the reply. Anybody discovered to be aiding an offender will probably be handled robustly as this can be a severe crime.”
