BODY FIND IS LIKELY TO BE GAIA
THE body of a woman has been found in the hunt for missing teenager Gaia Pope, which police are “confident” is the 19-year-old, they said last night. The discovery was made on land south of Swanage, close to where clothing positively identified as belonging to Miss Pope was found on Thursday.
She had not been seen since she vanished from the Swanage area of Dorset on the afternoon of November 7.
Dorset Police said the discovery was made at around 3pm yesterday by specialist search teams near the coastal path and the field where items of her clothing were located.
Detective Superintendent Paul Kessell, of Dorset Police’s major crime investigation team, said: “Although the body has yet to be formally identified, we are confident that we have found Gaia.
“Her family have been informed and are being supported by specially-trained officers.
“Our thoughts remain with all of her family and friends at this very traumatic time. They have requested privacy and that we make no further media releases at this point.
“The coroner has been notified and further forensic examination will continue. This will guide the investigation in respect of the circumstances of the death which at this time remains unexplained.
“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.
“We have received a huge amount of support from the public who have contacted us with possible sightings of Gaia and items of found clothing.
“I can confirm that we have recovered all the clothing we believe Gaia was wearing when she disappeared and, with thanks, we no longer require the public to assist with searches.”
The news came hours after hundreds of people, including Miss Pope’s father, Richard Sutherland, joined searches around Swanage yesterday looking for the teenager.
Detectives have arrested and released under investigation three people, a 71-year-old woman, a 19-year-old man and a 49-year-old man, named locally as Paul Elsey.