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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/nov/14/dorset-police-arrest-two-people-over-missing-teenager-gaia-pope
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| Family of missing Gaia Pope appeal for search to go on despite arrests | Family of missing Gaia Pope appeal for search to go on despite arrests |
| (11 days later) | |
| The family of a vulnerable young woman missing for more than a week have called for the search to continue despite two people having been arrested on suspicion of her murder. | The family of a vulnerable young woman missing for more than a week have called for the search to continue despite two people having been arrested on suspicion of her murder. |
| Relatives of Gaia Pope, 19, said they still hoped she would be found alive and the thought of seeing her smile again kept them hoping. | Relatives of Gaia Pope, 19, said they still hoped she would be found alive and the thought of seeing her smile again kept them hoping. |
| Detectives arrested a 71-year-old woman and 19-year-old man over the disappearance of Pope from the Isle of Purbeck in Dorset on 7 November. Both were released under investigation. | Detectives arrested a 71-year-old woman and 19-year-old man over the disappearance of Pope from the Isle of Purbeck in Dorset on 7 November. Both were released under investigation. |
| It is understood the pair are related and police were searching both their homes. | It is understood the pair are related and police were searching both their homes. |
| On Tuesday, Pope’s family released a statement making it clear that they still considered it a missing person rather than a murder inquiry. | On Tuesday, Pope’s family released a statement making it clear that they still considered it a missing person rather than a murder inquiry. |
| “We understand that the police continue to investigate all possible scenarios, and we want to emphasise that the search for Gaia continues,” the statement said. | “We understand that the police continue to investigate all possible scenarios, and we want to emphasise that the search for Gaia continues,” the statement said. |
| “We will be releasing information on the Find Gaia Facebook page regarding further volunteer search support. Please keep an eye out for requests for further search support. | “We will be releasing information on the Find Gaia Facebook page regarding further volunteer search support. Please keep an eye out for requests for further search support. |
| “We are aware of the arrests that have taken place but want to emphasise that these must not put a stop to the search until or unless there is a definite conclusion. If anyone knows where Gaia is, we beg you to let us know.” | “We are aware of the arrests that have taken place but want to emphasise that these must not put a stop to the search until or unless there is a definite conclusion. If anyone knows where Gaia is, we beg you to let us know.” |
| Addressing Pope directly, they said: “We all love you for ever. We miss you beyond words. We will find you, darling girl. The thought of seeing the sunshine of your smile again soon keeps us all going and hoping.” | Addressing Pope directly, they said: “We all love you for ever. We miss you beyond words. We will find you, darling girl. The thought of seeing the sunshine of your smile again soon keeps us all going and hoping.” |
| Pope is from the village of Langton Matravers and was staying at a property in nearby Swanage. She has epilepsy and is believed to have disappeared without her medication. | Pope is from the village of Langton Matravers and was staying at a property in nearby Swanage. She has epilepsy and is believed to have disappeared without her medication. |
| The two people arrested have not been named by police but are from the Swanage area. | The two people arrested have not been named by police but are from the Swanage area. |
| Hundreds of local people have helped police, coastguards and other expert search and rescue teams look for the missing woman. | Hundreds of local people have helped police, coastguards and other expert search and rescue teams look for the missing woman. |
| The senior investigating officer, Neil Devoto, of Dorset police’s major crime investigation team, said the last reported sighting of Pope was at a property in Manor Gardens on Morrison Road at about 4pm on 7 November. She was said to be wearing a red checked shirt with white buttons, grey and white woven leggings and white trainers. | The senior investigating officer, Neil Devoto, of Dorset police’s major crime investigation team, said the last reported sighting of Pope was at a property in Manor Gardens on Morrison Road at about 4pm on 7 November. She was said to be wearing a red checked shirt with white buttons, grey and white woven leggings and white trainers. |
| “We have looked through CCTV that covers the Swanage area, including transport hubs, and there is nothing to suggest she has left the area. Her disappearance is completely out of character and, following our extensive inquiries, we sadly now believe that she may have come to harm,” he said. | “We have looked through CCTV that covers the Swanage area, including transport hubs, and there is nothing to suggest she has left the area. Her disappearance is completely out of character and, following our extensive inquiries, we sadly now believe that she may have come to harm,” he said. |
| “We have not yet found Gaia and our searches will continue. I would appeal to anyone who has information about her disappearance to please contact Dorset police. | “We have not yet found Gaia and our searches will continue. I would appeal to anyone who has information about her disappearance to please contact Dorset police. |
| “Our specially trained officers have updated Gaia’s family and are supporting them at this very difficult time.” | “Our specially trained officers have updated Gaia’s family and are supporting them at this very difficult time.” |
| Gaia’s older sister, Clara Pope-Sutherland, 21, made a spreadsheet listing nearly 70 locations including cliffs, woodland, nature reserves and beaches that needed to be checked. | Gaia’s older sister, Clara Pope-Sutherland, 21, made a spreadsheet listing nearly 70 locations including cliffs, woodland, nature reserves and beaches that needed to be checked. |
| Speaking last week, Pope-Sutherland said: “Gaia is a home bird. She would never do anything like this. She’s just not the kind of person to go off like this. We’re all very worried about her as she has very severe epilepsy and is without her medication.” | Speaking last week, Pope-Sutherland said: “Gaia is a home bird. She would never do anything like this. She’s just not the kind of person to go off like this. We’re all very worried about her as she has very severe epilepsy and is without her medication.” |
| Anyone with information is asked to contact Dorset police at www.dorset.police.uk, via email at 101@dorset.pnn.police.uk or by calling 101, quoting incident number 9:179. Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. | Anyone with information is asked to contact Dorset police at www.dorset.police.uk, via email at 101@dorset.pnn.police.uk or by calling 101, quoting incident number 9:179. Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. |
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