A suspect arrested over the murder of nine-year-old Lillia Valutyte showed no reaction as he was held in the street by armed police, it was revealed today
The 22-year-old man who is believed to be Lithuanian was formally arrested on Saturday afternoon after he came out of a house in Thorold Street, Boston, Lincolnshire.
One neighbour claimed that the arrested man had been on holiday and had been staying with a friend at the Victorian semi-detached house in recent weeks.
The suspect was seen standing impassively in the street, wearing a black tracksuit trousers with a white line pattern and a black hooded top as an officer held his arms behind his back.
The house is just 200 yards from where the Lithuanian schoolgirl was stabbed to death outside her mother’s embroidery shop at 6.20pm last Thursday in Fountain Lane, Boston.
Police were today still standing guard outside the house as white-suited forensic officers were seen going in and out.
Police tracked down man after a manhunt following the death of schoolgirl, nine, on Thursday
Innocent Lillia Valutyte was knifed to death when playing in the street at 6.20pm Thursday
The schoolgirl was stabbed to death outside her mother’s embroidery shop at 6.20pm last Thursday in Fountain Lane, Boston
The man was seized just four hours after police released CCTV images of a suspect who was pictured walking just yards away from the spot where the schoolgirl died.
Local residents told how armed police suddenly swooped on the house overlooking Central Park in Boston at around 2.45pm on Saturday.
A woman who lives nearby said: ‘I fed my dogs at the usual time, and then I heard a drone flying above the house.
‘I wondered why it was there and then I suddenly remembered that they were looking for this guy after the murder of the little girl.
‘I looked out of the window and saw police arrive in several marked and unmarked cars, and a load of armed officers coming out.
‘They shouted out, “Any occupantst, come out of the front door, and let us see your hands”.
‘Officers yelled the message at least a couple of times while other police went round the back carrying a battering ram.
‘It took about five minutes for the guy to come out. I didn’t seen him resisting or trying to run away. They asked him what his name was, and then one of them said: “I am arresting you on suspicion of murder”.
Little Lillia (bottom right) was knifed at around 6.20pm on 28 July while she was reportedly playing in the street with her sister outside an embroidery and screen printing shop run by her Lithuanian mother Lina Savicke in Fountain Lane, Boston
The death of the nine-year-old girl, whose family were from Lithuania, has locals left in ‘profound shock’ and the local MP appealing for national assistance to catch her killer
‘There was such a commotion because there were other police turning up, and there was lots of talking.
‘He stood there for about ten minutes while they were searching the property. He was just standing there. He didn’t say anything, but he looked round once or twice.
‘When he was told that he was being arrested for murder, there was no reaction from him
‘After a while they moved him further up the road and out of sight. I also saw an evidence bag which had something wrapped up in it
‘It was turning into a bit of a circus because crowds were gathering.’
The Victorian semi-detached house where the man was arrested is believed to a house of multiple occupation with several Lithuanian residents including a couple.
One near neighbour who only gave his name as Artor, 40, said today : ‘I think the arrested guy was over from Lithuania and staying with a friend in the house.
‘There was some suggestion that he had been due to return to Lithuania. I think he had come over here on a kind of holiday, rather than for working.’
The death of the nine-year-old girl, whose family were from Lithuania, has locals left in ‘profound shock’ and the local MP appealing for national assistance to catch her killer
Chief Superintendent Parker announced the manhunt by reading a statement to the media at the top of Fountain Lane on Saturday, beside a growing collection of floral tributes and cuddly toys left by well-wishers in memory of Lillia.
Shocked onlookers saw three men being led away from an area outside a Victorian semi-detached house in Thorold Street, alongside Central Park in the town centre of Boston, Lincolnshire
Lillia’s family friend Jurate Matulioniene decribed her in a Facebook tribute as ‘a 9-year-old angel’ and ‘one of the most beautiful creatures’, saying: ‘None will feel her mother’s pain.’
She added: ‘The girl was a ray of the sunlight, just like her parents, who were the main helpers of our community and school events. The pain is unspeakable. We are devastated at this shocking news! Rest in peace, little angel.’
Other friends told how Lillia who lived with her mother Lina Savicke and stepfather Aurelijus Savickas loved dancing and Harry Potter books
A Lincolnshire Police statement said: ‘The arrest follows a combination of intelligence and information supplied by several members of the public. We’d like to thank everyone for their assistance as we continue our investigation.
‘We are not looking for anyone else in connection with this incident. There will continue to be a significant police presence in the town while our investigation progresses.
‘We are still encouraging anyone with information to contact us. You can do so via the Major Incident Portal.’
A 21-year-old man from Portugal who witnessed police swooping on the house in Thorold Street at around the time of the arrest, said: ‘I saw police vans and armed cops everywhere.
‘There were about ten or 12 armed police with their guns pointing down. One had a battering ram and went round the side of the house. I think they used it on the back door.
‘I saw three men going off with the police. One was a younger lad brought from the house and another was bald and aged in his 50s. A third man was surrounded in a group of police. It all happened in the space of ten minutes.’
Another eye witness said: ‘It looked like one of the men was just a person who was helping the police.’
Lillia was attacked just feet away from the screen printing and embroidery shop called Sava Code Embroidery which was opened by her mother Ms Savicke in March this year.
Her shop offers customised logos on bags and T shirts for local clubs and organisations, as well as personalised cushions and other items embroidered or printed with personal messages.
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