No third party involved in Gaia’s death, say police

No one else was involved in the death of teenager Gaia Pope, according to police.

The 19-year-old’s body was found on Saturday afternoon by specialist search teams on land south of Swanage – close to where clothing positively identified as belonging to the teenager was found on Thursday.

Dorset Police said a post-mortem examination had not identified any injuries to suggest third party involvement and Miss Pope’s death was being treated as “unexplained”.

Miss Pope, who suffered from severe epilepsy, had not been seen for 11 days and her disappearance prompted a massive campaign from family and friends to find her.

Detective Superintendent Paul Kessell, of Dorset Police’s major crime investigation team, said: “The post-mortem examination has not identified any injuries to suggest any other person was involved in her death.

“The cause of death is undetermined pending toxicology. The coroner is involved in the oversight of these examinations but at this time this remains an investigation into an unexplained death.

“We would like to take this further opportunity to pass our thoughts to Gaia’s family who we continue to support and who ask for respect of their privacy at this incredibly stressful time.

“Once again I would like to pass our thanks to the public volunteers and partner organisations who have supported this inquiry throughout and have been material in locating Gaia.”

Picture: PA. Death of Miss Pope, 19, “unexplained”.