Rebecca Thompson death: Father arrested after girl found dead
A father has been arrested on suspicion of murdering his 11-year-old daughter, whose body was found at her home in Hertfordshire, the BBC understands.
Rebecca Thompson, from Bushey, was found dead by officers in Homefield Road at midday on Saturday.
Her father Simon Thompson, 52, is in hospital with serious injuries after a high-speed road crash. Police are waiting to interview him.
A post-mortem examination of the girl's body will take place on Tuesday.
Police have appealed for witnesses of the crash at the nearby Elstree Hill roundabout to come forward.
Mr Thompson is being treated at a London hospital after his grey VW Golf hit a tree at the roundabout at 00:15 BST on Saturday.
A Hertfordshire Police spokeswoman said he was expected to be in hospital for some time and would be interviewed once deemed fit by medical staff.
The immediate scene around Rebecca's home has been sealed off as detectives and specialist teams gather evidence and undertake inquiries.
Det Insp John Arthur, from the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Major Crime Unit, said: "The death of a child is always tragic and understandably many people will be devastated and concerned by what has happened.
"Our thoughts are with Rebecca's family and friends at this terrible time.
"I have two key appeals to make from the public - did you see the VW Golf which would have been driven at high speed just prior to the crash at the Elstree Hill roundabout in the early hours of Saturday morning? This is a very important element to this investigation.
"I am also very keen to hear from anyone who saw, or knows where Rebecca had been during Friday 21 June. Who was she with? Where was she and at what time?"
Rebecca was an only child and lived with her mother Mary, who sells programmes at Watford Football Club, and her father.
Rita Cooper, head teacher at Rebecca's school - Sacred Heart Primary in Bushey - said: "Rebecca was a lovely girl who was hard working and did well in her learning. She was looking forward to secondary school.
"The whole school is very distressed by this tragedy and our thoughts are with her family and friends."