Family in 11 days of hope and torment

TEENAGER Gaia Pope’s disappearance left her family – and community – mystified.

Now the search for her looked last night as though it had ended in tragedy as police announced the discovery of a body This is how the story has unfolded:

November 7: A family member drives Gaia from her home in Langton Matravers to nearby Swanage. They stop at a garage for fuel and Gaia is seen on CCTV at 2.55pm buying an ice cream. At 3.39pm, she is caught on CCTV running along Morrison Road in Swanage. The last confirmed sighting of her is at 4pm at an address in Manor Gardens. November 8: Her family make an appeal for her to come home. Police officers say they are becoming “increasingly concerned” for her.

November 9: Hundreds of local people take part in searches as part of the operation to find her. November 10: Police release the CCTV footage showing the student running down

Morrison Road in grey tracksuit bottoms and trainers. November 12: Rosemary Dinch, 71 – the last person known to have to seen her – appeared on BBC South Today. She said: “She looked upset. Very upset. I have no idea where she is.”

November 13: Rosemary and grandson Nathan Elsey, 19, a friend of Gaia’s, are arrested on suspicion of murder.

November 14: Both are released under investigation. Forensic teams examine two properties in Manor Gardens. November 16: Paul Elsey, 49, is arrested on suspicion of murder. A walker finds clothes believed to belong to Gaia 200 yards from a 70ft cliff drop – an hour’s walk from where she was last spotted. Her dad Richard reveals she was attacked by a gang at 17 leading to PTSD and later says her epilepsy may have played a ‘big part’ in her disappearance. November 18: Paul Elsey is released under investigation. Volunteers join a mass search. At 8pm police announce a body has been found.