Family of missing Gaia pray for a miracle as third suspect is released
THE family of Gaia Pope was last night ‘holding on to hope’ that she is found alive – as it was claimed her disappearance could be linked to her epilepsy.
A community search will take place today as the desperate hunt for the missing 19-year-old enters its 11th day.
Gaia’s mother Natasha, 53, said: ‘I believe in this community and I believe miracles can happen.
‘I am holding on to hope, along with Gaia’s sisters and the whole family who are my strength. Please hold on with us.’
Yesterday her father Richard Sutherland, 57, wept as he told Good Morning Britain that her epilepsy could have played a ‘big part’ in her disappearance.
He said: ‘One thing we’ve really tried to do is not to go off down every speculation because that can lead you to 100 different ideas with 100 different variations on everything.
‘But it’s entirely possible that her epilepsy has played a big part in this and that’s meant it’s been more difficult to find her.’ It was revealed Gaia ‘rarely gets through a day without a seizure’.
Her cousin Marienna Pope-Weidemann, 26, said: ‘There’s been times when she’s not recognised us for a short time afterwards, not really understood where she is. That’s a big part of what’s made this case so complicated.’
It comes as the family of Paul Elsey, who was arrested on suspicion of murder on Thursday, confirmed he had been released pending further inquiries.
Mr Elsey, 49, was the third person to be arrested and released by Dorset Police over the disappearance of Gaia, from Swanage, Dorset, on November 7.
On Tuesday, his mother Rosemary Dinch, 71, and nephew Nathan Elsey, 19, a school friend of Gaia, were released under investigation after 24 hours. Mrs Dinch, who shares a flat with her son, was the last person known to have seen Gaia. Mr Elsey’s father Greg, 69, said: ‘My family has totally been the victim of a witch hunt.’
Hundreds of volunteers will today conduct line searches around the Isle of Purbeck peninsula. Gaia’s mother said: ‘My eternal thanks to everyone who is out there searching for my little girl.’
On Thursday, police found women’s clothing near a 70ft clifftop. Her family confirmed they matched clothes Gaia was wearing. There were fears they may have been dumped over the last few days as the area had been searched multiple times but nothing was found.