Overview
- Emergency services recovered three bodies from the sea near Madeira Drive and Black Rock after being called at about 5.45am on Wednesday, May 13.
- Sussex Police have formally identified the women as sisters Jane Adetoro, 36, Christina Walter, 32, and Rebecca Walter, 31, and the family has issued a public tribute.
- Detectives leading Operation Ledmore have reviewed hundreds of hours of CCTV and carried out door‑to‑door and business enquiries to trace the sisters’ last movements.
- Coastguard sources are examining a working theory that a sudden shingle‑shelf drop‑off or backwash could have pulled the women into deeper water, though the cause of death remains unestablished.
- The local community has raised more than £10,000 to support the family and relatives have urged corrections to online speculation, with specialist officers continuing to support next of kin.