The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Father devastated at loss of daughter
PROBE: Investigation into death enters its second week
Police resources from across Scotland are being called upon to discover why an Ayrshire woman’s dead body was left at the side of a rural Perthshire road.
The investigation into Annalise Johnstone’s death has entered a second week, with the road between Auchterarder and Dunning beside which she was found still sealed off by CID.
The 22-year-old was found at the side of the B8062 last Thursday, having travelled the previous day from Ardrossan to babysit for her brother in Auchterarder.
Annalise’s father, Gordon Johnstone, has paid tribute to his daughter, saying his “heart had been ripped out” by the tragedy.
Gordon, 43, from Fauldhouse in West Lothian, said: “I can’t believe I’ll never get her back. It’s like my candle has been burnt out, I’m an empty shell.”
Police chiefs have pledged to pool resources from across the country to solve the mysterious death of Annalise Johnstone.
The 22-year-old was found dead among trees on a rural road near Auchterarder.
Detectives believe the church-goer, from Ardrossan, Ayrshire, may have been murdered.
They are trying to piece together her final movements and have made a public appeal to help find her missing lime green mobile phone, wallet and bag of medication.
Annalise travelled from her Ayrshire home on Wednesday May 9 in a silver Ford Galaxy.
She arrived in Auchterarder to babysit for her big brother Jordan at about 5pm.
She was found dead among trees at the edge of the B8062 the following day, sparking a police investigation.
The road where she was found remained closed for a seventh day yesterday, as forensics officers continue their meticulous search for clues.
Part of a property at Inchture, where the Ford Galaxy was recovered, has also been sealed off, as well as a house in Auchterarder where Annalise is believed to have stayed.
Addressing councillors at yesterday’s housing and communities committee, Chief Superintendent Paul Anderson said: “The investigation is ongoing and there is a considerable amount of resource now from across the whole of Police Scotland involved in answering the circumstances that led to the unfortunate death of the young lady.”
Father of six Gordon Johnstone paid tribute to his daughter, saying his “heart had been ripped out” by the tragedy.
The 43-year-old, from Fauldhouse in West Lothian, said: “I’ll never get over not seeing and talking to Annalise again.
“I can’t believe I’ll never get her back. “I know I have my family around me, but I feel empty. We’ll never be the same again.”
He said he still did not know how his daughter died, adding: “I want the truth to come out, no matter what that truth is.”
Gordon said the car that was seized by police belongs to his son’s wife.
“I haven’t spoken to my son since, they wouldn’t let me in,” he said.