• Victim Eystna Blunnie, from Harlow in Essex, was discovered next to a busy road with severe head injuries
  • Her unborn child also died after the vicious attack
  • Distraught parents Kevin and Susan Blunnie pay tribute to their 'wonderful and loving daughter'
  • Police arrested a 23-year-old man and are treating the college student's murder as 'domestic related'

By Tom Gardner

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A heavily pregnant woman and her unborn baby have been brutally killed following a savage street attack.

Victim Eystna Blunnie, 20, from Harlow, Essex, was just days from giving birth, when she was discovered near to a busy main road in the town suffering from severe head injuries.

The college student was rushed to the town’s Princess Alexandra Hospital, but was later pronounced dead.

Brutal: The body of pregnant Eystna Blunnie, pictured, was found dying on the side of a road in Harlow

Essex Police arrested a 23-year-old man, yesterday afternoon, and were questioning him in connection with the murder and the death of the unborn child.

In a statement, her devastated parents Kevin and Susan Blunnie, said: ‘We hope that you will understand that we have suffered a tragic loss to our family.

Tragic: Estyna Blunnie, who has spoken of her excitement about becoming a mum, posted an ultrasound scan of her unborn child

Tragic: Estyna Blunnie, who has spoken of her excitement about becoming a mum, posted an ultrasound scan of her unborn child

‘Our daughter and granddaughter have been taken from us in such a tragic and horrific way.

'We can't begin to explain how we feel.

‘Eystna was a wonderful and loving daughter who was looking forward to the birth of her first child.

‘Sadly this will no longer be. We hope that everyone will understand the sadness in our hearts and let us mourn our sadness of the passing of our loved ones.

‘We would also like to thank everyone for their support to our family at this very sad time.’

Today friends told how the young mum-to-be was excited about the birth of her first child, due later this week, before she was discovered with fatal injuries near to Howard Way in Harlow, Essex.

Detectives initially said the death was being treated as unexplained but following the results of a post mortem, it is now being treated as murder.

The horrific nature of the attack at around 3am on Wednesday morning has shocked and upset residents in the area who have laid floral tributes at a bench near to where her body was found.

One of her best friends Chloe Hickman, 20, said: ‘It’s a terrible and wicked thing to happen to such a lovely, bubbly girl.

‘Eystna was such a popular and positive person and was due to be induced at the weekend.

‘She was really looking forward to becoming a mum.’

The young mum-to-be had studied catering at nearby Harlow College and had been excited about life as a full-time mother.

One of Eystna’s close friends Charlotte Bird wrote on Facebook: ‘Hates that I’m gonna go bed tonight and not sleep a wink but all I will be thinking bout are my 2 Beautiful darling Angels tonight who are at peace and now out of trouble sleep tight princesses.’

Distraught: People lay flowers on the side of a main road Howard Way, Harlow near to where Estyna Blunnie and her unborn baby were brutally beaten to death

Distraught: People lay flowers on the side of a main road Howard Way, Harlow near to where Estyna Blunnie and her unborn baby were brutally beaten to death

Grief: Two friends console each other beside tributes to college student Estyna Blunnie who was found fatally wounded in the street having been savagely beaten

Grief: Two friends console each other beside tributes to college student Estyna Blunnie who was found fatally wounded in the street having been savagely beaten

When Eystna was five months pregnant she told friends online she was hoping to give birth to a boy, but the brave expectant mother was preparing for life as a single mother.

As she excitedly counted down the days she spoke of the father of her baby, who is believed to be the suspect, not wanting the child and having a new partner.

Describing herself on her profile page Eystna said: ‘I’m 20yrs old 21yrs old this year and going to be a mummy soon can’t wait.

‘So if you have any problems with me or my ex then im not interested as im an adult unlike some of you.’

Tragic: Friends of Estyna Blunnie, who was found dying on the side of a road in Harlow, lay floral tributes to the pregnant college student and her unborn child

Tragic: Friends of Estyna Blunnie, who was found dying on the side of a road in Harlow, lay floral tributes to the pregnant college student and her unborn child

Shocking: Flowers have been laid in tribute to a heavily pregnant woman, named locally as Estyna Blunnie, and her baby, near the scene where she was found brutally murdered in Harlow, Essex

Shocking: Flowers have been laid in tribute to a heavily pregnant woman, named locally as Estyna Blunnie, and her baby, near the scene where she was found brutally murdered in Harlow, Essex

Detectives from the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate are investigating the case and have appealed for more information.

An Essex Police spokesman said: ‘A murder investigation was launched following the conclusion of a post mortem examination on Wednesday.

‘Police were contacted just before 3am with reports of a woman found with injuries in Howard Way.

‘The woman, aged in her 20s, was taken by ambulance to Princess Alexandra Hospital in Harlow where she was sadly later pronounced dead.

‘Police are investigating the circumstances leading up to the woman’s death and ask anyone with information to contact officers from the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate at Harlow on 101.’