Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Dunkirk actor quizzed over missing girl
A BUDDING actor who was in the war film Dunkirk has been quizzed over missing teenager Gaia Pope.
Nathan Elsey, 19, and his grandmother Rosemary Dinch were both released last night after being arrested on suspicion of murdering the girl.
Mr Elsey is said to be a close pal of Gaia, 19, who disappeared a week ago.
Her family said in a statement yesterday : “We are aware of the arrests that have taken place but want to emphasise that these must not put a stop to the search until or unless there is a definite conclusion.
“The massive effort to find Gaia has been great comfort in what everyone will understand is a deeply worrying experience. To Gaia, we all love you forever. We miss you beyond words.”
Earlier Mrs Dinch, 71, had made an emotional TV appeal for Gaia’s return. She said the teenager had banged on her front door, asking for help. The OAP added: “She looked upset. Very upset. I am just so pleased because I gave her a cuddle and then she responded. Of course I want to find her, I have no idea where she is. She just seems to have disappeared.” Gaia, who suffers with severe epilepsy, had been spotted regularly at the home of Mr Elsey, a performing arts student who was an extra in Dunkirk.
His home backs on to Mrs Dinch’s in Swanage, Dorset. Forensic teams were last night searching both. Gaia, of nearby Langton Matravers, was captured on CCTV running in the direction of Mr Elsey ’s home last Tuesday. She has not been seen since.
Neighbours told of shouting at Mrs Dinch’s home the day Gaia went missing. Jack Goode, 25, said: “The neighbour who lives below told me they heard shouting and screaming the day it happened. Debbie, Nathan’s mum, went over and apologised for disturbing them.” He said: “I probably saw [Gaia] walk to his flat with him twice a week before she disappeared. They spent a lot of time together.
“She was last seen here the hour before she went missing. I heard she was unstable when she came here.”
Gaia’s sister Clara, 21, said the teenager was an abuse victim and had been on her way to a GP. She wrote on Facebook: “Gaia suffers increasingly severe epilepsy... and post-traumatic stress disorder as a result of a traumatic abuse incident two years ago.
“She is going through a period of extreme worry/ptsd episode in fear the abuser will be released from jail.”