Helen Bailey disappeared three months ago, after taking her dachshund for a walk
Helen Bailey disappeared three months ago, after taking her dachshund for a walk Hertfordshire Police

Police are questioning a 55-year-old man on suspicion of murder, disposal of a body and theft of the missing author's money. Detectives are currently searching Bailey's Royston home and also a property in Broadstairs, Kent. A spokeswoman for Hertfordshire police said: "As part of the on-going investigation to trace missing author Helen Bailey, from Royston, a man has been arrested this morning (July 11).

"The 55-year-old man from Royston is being questioned at a police station in Hertfordshire on suspicion of murder, disposing of a body in a manner likely to obstruct the Coroner and suspicion of theft of money belonging to Helen Bailey. Helen has not been since April 11.

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"Significant inquiries and searches have already been made as part of the investigation to trace Helen and further searches at her home address in Royston and an address in Broadstairs in Kent are taking place today."

It is believed the author left her home which she shared with partner Ian Stewart, his children as well as Boris, her dachshund. Bailey is said to have left a note for Stewart saying she wanted some time alone and would be spending some time in their Broadstairs holiday home.

Bailey was last seen at around 2.45pm BST on Monday 11 April. Four days after her disappearance, her partner reported that the author was missing and visited their Broadstairs home, but there was no sign of her, according to Kent Online.

Searches of the local area and watching hours of CCTV footage failed to reveal any trace of Bailey. Chief Inspector Julie Wheatley described this as a "highly unusual case" because Bailey "seems to have simply disappeared", said a BBC report.

Even more baffling is that Bailey had not withdrawn any money from her bank accounts, made phone calls on her mobile or spoken to family and friends.

Bailey is the author of the Electra Brown novels and also wrote When Bad Things Happen in Good Bikinis after her husband of 22 years drowned while on holiday in Barbados.