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Gaia Pope case: Mass searches underway around Swanage | Gaia Pope case: Mass searches underway around Swanage |
(about 5 hours later) | |
Mass searches for missing teenager Gaia Pope are under way on the 11th day of her disappearance. | Mass searches for missing teenager Gaia Pope are under way on the 11th day of her disappearance. |
Volunteers have scoured three locations around Swanage, where the 19-year-old went missing on 7 November. | Volunteers have scoured 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. | It follows the release of a third murder suspect on Friday. |
The teenager's sister Clara Pope-Sutherland said: "We are choosing to believe the murder investigation is just a formality and that she is alive." | The teenager's sister Clara Pope-Sutherland said: "We are choosing to believe the murder investigation is just a formality and that she is alive." |
On Thursday, police discovered clothing belonging to Miss Pope on open land outside Swanage. | 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. | The case is being treated as a murder inquiry, but her sister said the missing person investigation had not been dropped either. |
She described the discovery of the clothes as "positive" as police now had "some kind of lead". | |
Hundreds of volunteers have joined the searches, which departed from three car parks at about midday to comb rural areas for possible clues. | Hundreds of volunteers have joined the searches, which departed from three car parks 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". | Miss Pope-Sutherland said the response from people in the town had been amazing and she was "beyond grateful". |
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 was arrested on the same charge on Monday, along with her 19-year-old grandson, Nathan Elsey. | |
They have both been released while inquiries continue. | |
Detectives have been focusing forensic investigations on homes, cars and an area near the coast path where the clothing was found. | |
BBC reporter Laurence Herdman said the town was covered with missing posters. | |
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. | 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 Pope | The search for Gaia Pope |
7 November: Miss Pope is driven by a family member from Langton Matravers to Swanage. At 14:55, she is caught on CCTV at St Michael's Garage buying ice cream. The last confirmed sighting is at 16:00 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 caught on CCTV at St Michael's Garage buying ice cream. The last confirmed sighting is at 16:00 at an address in Manor Gardens on Morrison Road |
8 November: Her family makes a plea through police for her to make contact. Dorset Police says it is "becoming increasingly concerned" | 8 November: Her family makes a plea through police for her to make contact. Dorset Police says it is "becoming increasingly concerned" |
9 November: Searches by police, the coastguard and force helicopter are carried out in the Swanage area. Miss Pope's relatives release a statement saying they are "frantic with worry" | 9 November: Searches by police, the coastguard and force helicopter are carried out in the Swanage area. Miss Pope's relatives release a statement saying they are "frantic with worry" |
10 November: CCTV footage shows Miss Pope on Morrison Road, Manor Gardens, at 15:39 on 7 November | 10 November: CCTV footage shows Miss Pope on Morrison Road, Manor Gardens, at 15:39 on 7 November |
13 November: Rosemary Dinch and Nathan Elsey are arrested on suspicion of murder and released under investigation | 13 November: Rosemary Dinch and Nathan Elsey are arrested on suspicion of murder and 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 | 15 November: CCTV images of Miss Pope at St Michael's Garage are released. Searches continue to concentrate inland |
16 November: Paul Elsey is arrested on suspicion of murder. Miss Pope'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. Miss Pope's clothing is discovered in a field near Swanage and a police cordon is set up |
17 November: Mr Elsey is released under investigation | 17 November: Mr Elsey is released under investigation |