Sunday Mirror (Northern Ireland)
OUR LITTLE BIRD HAS FLOWN
Family’s heartbreak after grim discovery
A BODY was found in the hunt for Gaia Pope last night and police say they are “confident” it is the missing teenager.
Hours earlier a search party of a thousand volunteers, led by her father Richard, had set off to search for the 19-year-old student who disappeared in Swanage, Dorset, 12 days ago.
The discovery, in what police said was a murder inquiry, was made by specialist search teams near the Dorset coastal path and field where items of her clothing were discovered on Thursday.
Det Supt Paul Kessell said: “We are confident we have found Gaia.
“Her family have been informed and are being supported by specially-trained officers. The coroner has been notified and further forensic examination will continue.
“I would like to thank the community for their support and understanding while this large-scale investigation continues, and their efforts in looking for Gaia.”
The body was found between Anvil Point and Dancing Ledge near Swanage. Gaia’s heartbroken dad Richard had led yesterday’s search, scouring three locations in and around the seaside town of Swanage in which Gaia – who had severe epilepsy – was last seen.
Speaking just hours after the body was discovered at 3pm yesterday, Gaia’s sister Clara paid tribute to her.
NIGHTMARE
In a statement she said: “She is – I’m not going to say was and never will – the absolute light of my life.
“So beautiful, so emotionally wise and intelligent and so creative, artistic, passionate and understanding.”
She continued that she would “always be one of three” siblings and thanked the public in their attempts to help find the missing teenager.
Gaia’s cousin, Marienna Pope-Weidemann, also paid tribute to locals for the
She is – I will never say was – the absolute light of my life GAIA’S SISTER CLARA ON BODY DISCOVERY
help and support they had given the family.
She said: “If there is one ray of light in this nightmare it is the compassion, humanity and community spirit that you’ve shown over the last 10 days.
“This afternoon the emergency services found Gaia’s body.
“We are absolutely devastated. Our little bird has flown but will always be with us.” The last sighting of Gaia was on CCTV, running in a distressed state along a road in Swanage at 3.39pm on November 7.
On Friday, Paul Elsey, 49, became the third suspect to be released on suspicion of murder.
His mum Rosemary, 71, and nephew Nathan, 19 – an old school pal of Gaia’s and an extra in hit movie Dunkirk – were released under investigation earlier this week.
Paul’s car salesman dad Greg, 69, speaking yesterday before the body was found, said he was “bewildered” by his son’s arrest and accused police of a “witch hunt”. He said Paul was working 30 miles away the day Gaia went missing and that his son was now “chilling out” at a friend’s house.
CONFISCATED
Mr Elsey revealed police had confiscated Paul’s phone as well as his grandson Nathan’s, ex-wife Rosemary’s and daughter Debbie’s.
Debbie, Nathan’s nail technician mother, has also had her appointment book confiscated. Mr Elsey said: “All the attention Paul is receiving is not fair.
“For God’s sake, he was working all day when Gaia went missing. He lives with his mother and takes care of her. He goes back there each night. Police took him in and he said ‘what on earth am I doing here?’. I’ve no way of getting hold of him. They’ve taken everyone’s phones. “It’s ruined Rosemary and Nathan’s life. It’s not fair. The way the police have handled this is terrible, shocking.”
Gaia – who suffered post traumatic stress disorder after a gang attack when she was 17 – was wearing a red and white checked shirt, grey leggings and white trainers when she vanished.
She had a GP appointment that afternoon, but did not turn up.
Her clothes were found by a 70-foot cliff edge near her home on Thursday.
It is thought she had recently become the victim of online taunts.
“Two days before she went missing, she posted on Instagram: “Police are into my phone I think. I’m going to have to put it down til Wednesday …or I’ll be put in a cell myself.” A pal commented: “Just run somewhere safe, you haven’t done anything wrong.”