A manhunt was under way today after a prostitute was murdered at a multi-million pound townhouse in a west London square.

Murder detectives are searching for Robert Richard Fraser, also known as Robert Aleem, after 48-year-old Maria Duque-Tunjano was found beaten to death.

Scotland Yard said Fraser is also wanted in connection with an assault on another sex worker, in her twenties, in Paddington on January 18. Officers are warning the public not to approach the Jamaican-born fitness worker, 39, and dial 999. Airports have been put on alert.

Ms Duque-Tunjano, who had rented a room in the townhouse in Earl’s Court Square for four years, was dropped off there by her boyfriend on Tuesday afternoon.

Earl's Court murder investigation 10 show all Earl's Court murder investigation 1/10 Prime suspect CCTV issued by police showing Robert Richard Fraser, who is also known as Robert Aleem and Shia Robert Jackson, wanted in connection with the murder of sex worker Maria Duque-Tunjano 2/10 Victim Maria Duque-Tunjano was found in bed with a blanket covering her body at a multi-million pound townhouse in Earl's Court on Friday PA 3/10 Wanted Detectives are trying to trace Robert Richard Fraser 4/10 Earl's Court murder Cards of condolence left at the scene where the body of sex worker Maria Duque-Tunjano was found (Picture: Nigel Howard) Cards of condolence are left outside an address in Earls Court after the body a sex worker was found dead at the address a few days previously. PICTURE BY: NIGEL HOWARD Email: nigelhowardmedia@gmail.com 5/10 Earl's Court murder A police officer at the scene of the crime in Earl's Court (Picture: Nigel Howard) A lone police officer sits on the staircase inside the property in Earls Court after the body a sex worker was found dead at the address a few days previously. PICTURE BY: NIGEL HOWARD Email: nigelhowardmedia@gmail.com 6/10 scene1.jpg Murder: The townhouse in Earl's Court where the woman's body was found (Picture: Nigel Howard) Forensic Staff leave an address in Earls Court after the body a sex worker was found dead at the address a few days previously. PICTURE BY: NIGEL HOWARD Email: nigelhowardmedia@gmail.com 7/10 scene21.jpg It is believed the woman's body lay undiscovered for three days (Picture: Nigel Howard) Forensic Staff leave an address in Earls Court after the body a sex worker was found dead at the address a few days previously. PICTURE BY: NIGEL HOWARD Email: nigelhowardmedia@gmail.com 8/10 Earl's Court murder A card written in Spanish with condolences for the woman who was found dead (Picture: Nigel Howard) Cards of condolence are left outside an address in Earls Court after the body a sex worker was found dead at the address a few days previously. PICTURE BY: NIGEL HOWARD Email: nigelhowardmedia@gmail.com 9/10 Murder probe Forensic staff leave the scene (Picture: Nigel Howard) Nigel Howard 10/10 Investigation Forensic staff leave the address in Earl's Court and pass floral tributes (Picture: Nigel Howard) Nigel Howard 1/10 Prime suspect CCTV issued by police showing Robert Richard Fraser, who is also known as Robert Aleem and Shia Robert Jackson, wanted in connection with the murder of sex worker Maria Duque-Tunjano 2/10 Victim Maria Duque-Tunjano was found in bed with a blanket covering her body at a multi-million pound townhouse in Earl's Court on Friday PA 3/10 Wanted Detectives are trying to trace Robert Richard Fraser 4/10 Earl's Court murder Cards of condolence left at the scene where the body of sex worker Maria Duque-Tunjano was found (Picture: Nigel Howard) Cards of condolence are left outside an address in Earls Court after the body a sex worker was found dead at the address a few days previously. PICTURE BY: NIGEL HOWARD Email: nigelhowardmedia@gmail.com 5/10 Earl's Court murder A police officer at the scene of the crime in Earl's Court (Picture: Nigel Howard) A lone police officer sits on the staircase inside the property in Earls Court after the body a sex worker was found dead at the address a few days previously. PICTURE BY: NIGEL HOWARD Email: nigelhowardmedia@gmail.com 6/10 scene1.jpg Murder: The townhouse in Earl's Court where the woman's body was found (Picture: Nigel Howard) Forensic Staff leave an address in Earls Court after the body a sex worker was found dead at the address a few days previously. PICTURE BY: NIGEL HOWARD Email: nigelhowardmedia@gmail.com 7/10 scene21.jpg It is believed the woman's body lay undiscovered for three days (Picture: Nigel Howard) Forensic Staff leave an address in Earls Court after the body a sex worker was found dead at the address a few days previously. PICTURE BY: NIGEL HOWARD Email: nigelhowardmedia@gmail.com 8/10 Earl's Court murder A card written in Spanish with condolences for the woman who was found dead (Picture: Nigel Howard) Cards of condolence are left outside an address in Earls Court after the body a sex worker was found dead at the address a few days previously. PICTURE BY: NIGEL HOWARD Email: nigelhowardmedia@gmail.com 9/10 Murder probe Forensic staff leave the scene (Picture: Nigel Howard) Nigel Howard 10/10 Investigation Forensic staff leave the address in Earl's Court and pass floral tributes (Picture: Nigel Howard) Nigel Howard

It is believed her body lay for three days before it was discovered on Friday when her sister raised the alarm after being unable to contact her.

A friend who went to check up found the front door unlocked and her dead body on the floor.

A post-mortem yesterday gave cause of death as blunt trauma to the head. It is believed the 48-year-old, a British national originally from Colombia, was also robbed of cash.

Landlord Kassem Shakarchi said: “She was a very quiet, friendly, polite and simple girl who had a boyfriend and a family and our thoughts go out to them. She always paid her rent on time and I never had any problems from her in the four years she’d been there.”

Related stories

Mr Shakarchi, who said he had not been aware of the nature of Ms Duque-Tunjano’s business, added: “The last conversation I had with her was the week before when she said she was going to visit her boyfriend and sister.”

“It’s an horrendous crime. It’s even more shocking that it should happen in this area.”Ms Duque-Tunjano is believed to have rented a room in the property for “business” while living in Streatham.

Witnesses described seeing two “hysterical” women shouting “she’s dead, she’s dead” at the top of steps leading up to Ms Duque-Tunjano’s ground-floor room.

The witness, who wished not to be named, said: “I was walking past and these two women just ran out in hysterics and were at the top of the stairs jumping around and screaming ‘dial 999, dial 999’.

“Then they started screaming ‘she’s dead, she’s dead’. Someone else there called the police and they were there really quickly and then it was all cordoned off.”

Neighbour Nick Pietris, 24, said: “She was very nice. She always said hello and had a smile on her face. She was a very nice lady and it’s a tragedy. It’s really shocking for it to happen in this area.”

Dozens of floral tributes written in Spanish were left at the entrance to the five-storey stucco-fronted townhouse. One read: “Rest in peace. We will remember you with all our love. God bless you forever, Georges and Manuela.”

Another read: “Thank you for having been in this world. God will always take you by his hand to his kingdom. Over there you will find happiness that maybe perhaps you didn’t find here.”

Earls Court Square properties reach in excess of £8 million and the location was once home to the likes of Bond actress Rosamund Pike and Depeche Mode singer David Gahan.

Detective Chief Inspector Nicola Wall, who is leading the inquiry, said: “We have established that Maria was last seen alive on Tuesday, 28 January. We also understand she was in the company of a man and our primary focus is to trace him as part of this investigation.

“It is now our belief that this man was also responsible for an attack on another female sex worker in Paddington. It is imperative that we trace him as soon as possible.

“We have spoken to organisations with links to those who work in the sex industry to make them aware of this incident and pass on the message that personal safety of sex workers is of paramount importance.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact the incident room on 020 8785 8244 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.