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Dead girl 'met man on internet' | Dead girl 'met man on internet' |
(40 minutes later) | |
A man is being questioned after the body of a teenager he is believed to have met on the internet was discovered in a field in County Durham. | A man is being questioned after the body of a teenager he is believed to have met on the internet was discovered in a field in County Durham. |
The 17-year-old's body was found following the arrest of a 32-year-old man for traffic offences on the A177 near Sedgefield on Monday night. | The 17-year-old's body was found following the arrest of a 32-year-old man for traffic offences on the A177 near Sedgefield on Monday night. |
Durham Police said the Darlington girl told family she was staying with a friend on Sunday night. | |
A murder inquiry is now under way, the force has confirmed. | |
The teenager, who has not yet been formally identified, had told her family she would be home by lunchtime on Monday. | |
My message in terms of meeting people from the internet is 'please do not do it unless you are absolutely certain it is safe' Det Ch Insp Paul Harker | |
When she failed to return, her mother repeatedly rang her mobile phone, but could not get a reply. | When she failed to return, her mother repeatedly rang her mobile phone, but could not get a reply. |
Her body was found fully clothed near the Little Chef roundabout off the A689 and A177. It is believed it could have been there for up to 24 hours. | |
A post-mortem examination is due to be carried out, but currently there is no indication that she was sexually assaulted, said police. | |
Det Ch Insp Paul Harker said the case highlighted the dangers of meeting people on the internet, and urged parents to monitor their children's online habits. | |
'Different names' | |
He said: "This is a very, very unusual event. My message in terms of meeting people from the internet is 'please do not do it unless you are absolutely certain it is safe'." | |
He added: "Speak to them about it, speak to their friends, let them know the dangers of the internet." | |
Police are still trying to establish the identity of the arrested man. | |
Mr Harker said: "He has given us a couple of different names and we are trying to establish through fingerprints his identity. | |
"There is a strong suggestion he is from the Merseyside area." | |
The teenager was not reported missing to police, he said. | |
Police want to speak to anyone who saw a dark blue Ford Mondeo, registration S148 JNK, between 1900 GMT on Sunday and 1740 GMT on Monday. | |
The vehicle is currently being examined by forensic experts. |