What happened next has revealed her substantial assets and the likely motive for her murder. Her bank account was plundered of several hundred thousand pounds, say police. Three different women have tried to pose as her to use her credit cards. At least two people have arrived at her flat, claiming to be the new tenants. And a man saying he was her brother tried to sell the flat. Ten people have been arrested.
One of the most intriguing aspects of the case is the source of her wealth. The daughter of a colliery electrician in County Durham, she left school with few qualifications and worked in a low-level role at the Department of Social Security.
She went to London when she was 25, and little is known of her until 13 years later in 2000, when she got a job in Libya with Veba Oil. Her salary was then £24,000 ($46,000) after tax.
Besides the large funds in her bank account, she also had some impressive jewellery, significant items of which are missing. They include a Cartier ring, a white-gold bracelet and a yellow-gold bracelet and necklace.
While she was working in Libya, she was, according to some of her former workmates, rather more forthcoming about her lifestyle than she was with her family. Reports say she told colleagues that she regularly hobnobbed with film stars, and owned a Harley-Davidson motorbike and a flat near Harrods.
She also wore a large diamond engagement ring and wedding band, and referred to her "late" husband, although there is no record of her ever having been married.
One woman who worked with her said: "None of us could work out why she had come to Libya to work for just £24,000 a year if she was already so wealthy." Another said Waugh claimed she was a property developer back in London.
Waugh left Libya in 2008 in circumstances that have added to the speculation. Her former boss, Stuart Anderson, said she had written to him saying she had "fled" Libya after being threatened by someone in Colonel Muammar Gaddafi's regime. Her neighbours included Saif Gaddafi, one of his sons.
Scotland Yard sources, however, say they are not pursuing a North African dimension.
Once back in Britain, Waugh frequently visited her family, was a keen jogger and, according to police, met men through a variety of internet sites, including dating websites. Police are also investigating the possibility that she worked as an escort, although there is as yet no evidence that she did.
What does seem certain is that there was no sighting of her between mid-April and the discovery last week of her body. She died from a single stab wound.
She was hidden in a blue Volkswagen Golf inside the London lock-up, which had been rented recently from its builder owner. Police would not comment on reports that Waugh's body had been in the garage for months.
Scotland Yard said Nicholas David Kutner, 47, who was arrested in connection with the murder, has been charged with four counts of fraud.
- Independent
