Unsolved Murder: The Queen and Prince Phillip Return to Sandringham, Scene of 2012 Mystery Death of Alisa Dmitrijeva

The Queen and Prince Philip have arrived at Sandringham after postponing their trip, but it is a place of Christmas ghosts of past as they return to the scene of a mysterious murder?

The Royal couple had been due to take a train on Wednesday to King’s Lynn en route to Sandringham but remained in London due to illness.

After flying by helicopter from Buckingham Palace to the Norfolk estate on Thursday to start their Christmas break, The Royal couple, who both caught ‘heavy colds’, delaying the trip, will not of flown over the 20.000 acre grounds without casting a memory back to New Years day, 2102, when the body of Alisa Dmitrijeva, 17, Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, was found by a dog walker within the boundaries of The Queens land.

Though the Royal family were not implicated in any way whatsoever, it will be a haunting memory for The Queen, 90, and Prince Phillip, 95, each time they visit their favourite Christmas retreat to celebrate the festive period.

Police forensics helped identify the remains of the body but it was not easy after being there so long.

Scientists were eventually able to determine it was the body of Alisa using DNA from her femur and records from her palm.

Further tests were unable to conclude a cause of death with it remaining unknown.

At an inquest into the death off Alisa, in September 2014, Assistant Coroner David Osbourne said: “This is a tragic, sad and troubling case. Alisa Dmitrijeva was reported as a missing person in early September 2011. Tragically her body was found decomposed in a remote area of woodland on the Sandringham Estate on 1 January 2012.

“It is likely her body had been there for one to four months. Unfortunately it has not been possible to determine a cause of death or whether Alisa died at the scene or elsewhere. The circumstance in which Alisa was found indicates third party involvement, that is to say she was deliberately placed there.”

Police arrested two suspects, Robertas Lukosius, 34 and Lauras Boiko, 30, but the court was told the Crown Prosecution Service said that there was not enough evidence to charge the men and they were released without charge.

Outside court, Alisa’s grandmother Lidija Nesterova said: “I do not understand the CPS who made the decision not to proceed with the case – even though everyone is astonished with the amount of evidence.”

Following the hearing, Det Insp Marie James, of the Norfolk and Suffolk Joint Major Investigation Team, said the case would remain open.

She said “We are certain there are individuals out there who know how and why Alisa died.

“Our investigation into her death will remain open and I would reiterate my message to anyone who may have information to have the courage to come forward”. 

Four years later the mystery is still not solved and the family of Alisa Dmitrijeva still do not have any closure.