Jayden Parkinson: murder case detectives cordon off Oxfordshire grave

http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2013/dec/18/jayden-parkinson-murder-case-grave-oxfordshire

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Police searching for missing teenager Jayden Parkinson have cordoned off a grave next to a church and are carrying out a search, saying they have received "significant and highly relevant information" that the site is related to her alleged murder. Thames Valley police said investigations had led them to the Great Western Cemetery by All Saints Church in Didcot, Oxfordshire. The 17-year-old girl disappeared on 3 December after she was last seen leaving the town's railway station at about 4.30pm. Detective Chief Superintendent Andy Murray said on Tuesday night: "We're in the process of securing this grave and would like to emphasise that the family connected with this grave have been informed," he said. Jayden's former boyfriend, 22-year-old Ben Blakeley, of Christchurch Road, Reading, Berkshire, appeared on Tuesday at Oxford crown court charged with her murder and perverting the course of justice by disposing of her body and lying to the police about the last time he saw her alive. A 17-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, also appeared before Oxford magistrates charged with perverting the course of justice between 3 and 10 December by assisting in the disposal of Jayden's body and other evidence. More than 100 uniformed officers and detectives are working on the case, backed up by specialists from the National Crime Agency.

Murray said there was "no indication" that Jayden remained alive and appealed to people to get in touch if they remembered seeing the teenager "on her own or in the company of anybody". He repeated an appeal for any information about a man seen struggling with a suitcase just outside the village of Upton, near Didcot, in south Oxfordshire, at about 2am on 9 December. The same man was later then seen with the same suitcase in the Lydalls Road area of Didcot – where All Saints' is located – at about 3.30am. Detectives had since recovered several suitcases, one of which "may well be significant", Murray said.

Murray said of the cemetery search: "We will be here throughout the night and for a number of days. "A tent has been erected which covers more than the specific grave we are focusing on. The families of those in the graves nearby will be contacted by us and reassured that there will be no disturbance to these graves. "We would ask people not to be concerned, as families who need to be aware will be contacted and reassured by us."

"The investigation could take some time and is a very sensitive and difficult situation so we would like to ask the public and the media to be patient and understanding at this time."

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