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Gaia Pope case: Mass searches underway around Swanage | |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Mass searches for missing teenager Gaia Pope are taking place in Dorset. | Mass searches for missing teenager Gaia Pope are taking place in Dorset. |
Volunteers have formed human chains to scour three locations around Swanage, where the 19-year-old went missing on 7 November. | |
It follows the release of a third murder suspect on Friday, as police inquiries continue. | It follows the release of a third murder suspect on Friday, as police inquiries continue. |
Her sister, Clara Pope-Sutherland said: "We are choosing to believe that the murder investigation is just a formality and that she is alive." | |
Hundreds of volunteers have joined searches, which set off from three car parks in Swanage at about midday to comb rural areas for possible clues. | |
Miss Pope-Sutherland said the response from people in the town had been amazing and she was "beyond grateful". | |
On Thursday, police discovered clothing belonging to Miss Pope on open land outside Swanage. | |
The case is being treated as a murder inquiry, but her sister said the missing person investigation had not been dropped either. | |
Miss Pope-Sutherland said the discovery of the clothes was "positive" as police now had "some kind of lead". | |
So far three people have been arrested on suspicion of murder, including Paul Elsey, 49, who was released under investigation on Friday afternoon. | So far three people have been arrested on suspicion of murder, including Paul Elsey, 49, who was released under investigation on Friday afternoon. |
He lives with his mother Rosemary Dinch, 71, who, along with her 19-year-old grandson, Nathan Elsey, was arrested on suspicion of murder on Monday. | He lives with his mother Rosemary Dinch, 71, who, along with her 19-year-old grandson, Nathan Elsey, was arrested on suspicion of murder on Monday. |
They have also been released under investigation by Dorset Police. | They have also been released under investigation by Dorset Police. |
Murder detectives have been focusing their forensic investigations on homes, cars and an area near the coast path where clothing belonging to Miss Pope was found. | Murder detectives have been focusing their forensic investigations on homes, cars and an area near the coast path where clothing belonging to Miss Pope was found. |
BBC reporter Laurence Herdman said the search teams had been out overnight again, and the case had left the town "subdued". | BBC reporter Laurence Herdman said the search teams had been out overnight again, and the case had left the town "subdued". |
"Everywhere you look you see posters of Gaia", he said. | "Everywhere you look you see posters of Gaia", he said. |
Miss Pope-Sutherland said community searches had visited "pretty much every house" in Swanage to hand out posters and ask people to search their properties. | |
Earlier this week, her mother urged people to look in vans, garages and houses in case she was being kept against her will. | Earlier this week, her mother urged people to look in vans, garages and houses in case she was being kept against her will. |
The search for Gaia | The search for Gaia |
7 November: Miss Pope is driven by a family member from Langton Matravers to Swanage. At 14:55, she is seen on CCTV inside St Michael's Garage buying ice cream and at 16:00 her last confirmed sighting is at an address in Manor Gardens on Morrison Road | 7 November: Miss Pope is driven by a family member from Langton Matravers to Swanage. At 14:55, she is seen on CCTV inside St Michael's Garage buying ice cream and at 16:00 her last confirmed sighting is at an address in Manor Gardens on Morrison Road |
8 November: Her family make a personal plea through the police for her to get in contact. Ch Insp Steve White, of Dorset Police, says the force is "becoming increasingly concerned" | 8 November: Her family make a personal plea through the police for her to get in contact. Ch Insp Steve White, of Dorset Police, says the force is "becoming increasingly concerned" |
9 November: Dorset Police renews its appeal to find the 19-year-old. Searches have been carried out in the Swanage area, with support from the coastguard and police helicopter. Miss Pope's family release a statement saying they are "frantic with worry" | 9 November: Dorset Police renews its appeal to find the 19-year-old. Searches have been carried out in the Swanage area, with support from the coastguard and police helicopter. Miss Pope's family release a statement saying they are "frantic with worry" |
10 November: CCTV footage is released of Gaia on Morrison Road, Manor Gardens, at 15:39 on 7 November. | 10 November: CCTV footage is released of Gaia on Morrison Road, Manor Gardens, at 15:39 on 7 November. |
13 November: Search warrants issued at two addresses in Swanage. Rosemary Dinch and Nathan Elsey are arrested on suspicion of murder and later released under investigation | 13 November: Search warrants issued at two addresses in Swanage. Rosemary Dinch and Nathan Elsey are arrested on suspicion of murder and later released under investigation |
14 November: Searches continue with the coastguard and volunteers from Dorset Search and Rescue and Wessex 4x4 | 14 November: Searches continue with the coastguard and volunteers from Dorset Search and Rescue and Wessex 4x4 |
15 November: CCTV images of Miss Pope at St Michael's Garage are released. Searches continue to concentrate inland, supported by neighbouring police forces | 15 November: CCTV images of Miss Pope at St Michael's Garage are released. Searches continue to concentrate inland, supported by neighbouring police forces |
16 November: Paul Elsey is arrested on suspicion of murder. Women's clothing is discovered in a field near Swanage and a police cordon is set up | 16 November: Paul Elsey is arrested on suspicion of murder. Women's clothing is discovered in a field near Swanage and a police cordon is set up |
17 November: Paul Elsey is released while police inquiries continue. | 17 November: Paul Elsey is released while police inquiries continue. |