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Jayden Parkinson's family 'devastated' after a body is found in Didcot Jayden Parkinson's family 'devastated' after a body is found in Didcot
(about 2 hours later)
The family of missing teenager Jayden Parkinson are "heartbroken" and "devastated", police have said. The family of missing teenager Jayden Parkinson are heartbroken and devastated, police have said. Detectives believe a body found buried in a grave in Oxfordshire is that of the 17-year-old.
Detectives believe a body found buried in a grave in Oxfordshire is that of the 17-year-old.
Thames Valley police said the body was discovered in a recently disturbed site in the cemetery of All Saints' church, Didcot.Thames Valley police said the body was discovered in a recently disturbed site in the cemetery of All Saints' church, Didcot.
The man leading the investigation, Detective Chief Superintendent Andy Murray, said: "We had prepared Jayden's family for the worst but I'm afraid nothing can prepare you for the loss of your child. DCS Andy Murray, who is leading the investigation, said: "We had prepared Jayden's family for the worst but I'm afraid nothing can prepare you for the loss of your child. They remain heartbroken, they remain devastated, and our thoughts are with them at this time."
"They remain heartbroken, they remain devastated, and our thoughts are with them at this time."
In a brief statement on Thursday at Thames Valley police HQ in Kidlington, near Oxford, Murray said: "It's been a long and difficult night but, as you probably know, we discovered a body in a particular grave in All Saints' cemetery in Didcot and I believe that body to be Jayden Parkinson, our missing teenager.In a brief statement on Thursday at Thames Valley police HQ in Kidlington, near Oxford, Murray said: "It's been a long and difficult night but, as you probably know, we discovered a body in a particular grave in All Saints' cemetery in Didcot and I believe that body to be Jayden Parkinson, our missing teenager.
"Formal identification has not yet taken place. Jayden's body was removed from the cemetery late last night. "Formal identification has not yet taken place. Jayden's body was removed from the cemetery late last night. Our only work in that cemetery now consists of returning that cemetery to its previous state. A postmortem will take place today to try and determine how Jayden died and our management of various crime scenes in and around Didcot will be dependent on the outcome of that postmortem."
"Our only work in that cemetery now consists of returning that cemetery to its previous state. He added: "I'd like to thank the public for all their support and I'd like to thank you, the media, for your help in this case. This is likely to be the last time I make any public comment before the outcome of the trial."
"A postmortem will take place today to try and determine how Jayden died and our management of various crime scenes in and around Didcot will be dependent on the outcome of that postmortem. Jayden's ex-boyfriend Ben Blakeley, 22, appeared in court this week charged with her murder.
"I'd like to thank the public for all their support and I'd like to thank you, the media, for your help in this case. A team of more than 100 officers and detectives, backed by specialists from the National Crime Agency, spent much of the week carrying out intensive forensic searches at several sites in and around Didcot and the nearby village of Upton.
"This is likely to be the last time I make any public comment before the outcome of the trial." On Tuesday Murray said police had received "significant and highly relevant information" which led them to focus their efforts on a specific grave in the churchyard.
Jayden's ex-boyfriend Ben Blakeley, 22, had appeared in court earlier this week charged with her murder. Jayden, who had recently moved to Oxford, was last seen leaving Didcot railway station at 4.27pm on 3 December. Police said this week there was no indication she was still alive, and Jayden had not used her mobile phone or accessed her bank account in the days since she had been reported missing.
The discovery of the body came after a team of more than 100 officers and detectives, backed by specialists from the National Crime Agency, spent much of the past week carrying out intensive forensic searches at several sites in and around Didcot and the nearby village of Upton. Officers issued an appeal for information about a man seen struggling with a suitcase just outside Upton at about 2am on Monday 9 December. A search of farmland on the outskirts of the village took place after the sighting.
On Tuesday, Murray said police had received "significant and highly relevant information" which led them to focus their efforts on a specific grave in the churchyard. Officers said the same man was seen with the same suitcase in the Lydalls Road area of Didcot – where All Saints' church is located – at about 3.30am the same day. Detectives have since recovered several suitcases, one of which "may well be significant", according to Murray.
The teenager, who had recently moved to Oxford, was last seen leaving Didcot railway station at 4.27pm on 3 December.
Police said there was "no indication" she was still alive, revealing Jayden had not used her mobile phone or accessed her bank account in the days since she had been reported missing.
Officers had previously issued an appeal for information about a man seen struggling with a suitcase just outside Upton at about 2am on Monday 9 December.
A search of farmland on the outskirts of the village took place after the sighting.
Officers said the same man was seen with the same suitcase in the Lydalls Road area of Didcot – where All Saints' church is located – at about 3.30am the same day.
Detectives have since recovered several suitcases, one of which "may well be significant", according to Murray.
Police also confirmed that during the course of their investigation it was suggested Jayden might have been pregnant at the time of her disappearance.Police also confirmed that during the course of their investigation it was suggested Jayden might have been pregnant at the time of her disappearance.
In a post on Facebook on Sunday, Jayden's mother Samantha Shrewsbury wrote: "My baby, my princess, my heart is so heavy baby girl. In a post on Facebook on Sunday, Jayden's mother Samantha Shrewsbury wrote: "My baby, my princess, my heart is so heavy baby girl. I just want to see you walk through my door with a 'ta-da'. I need you little lady, my heart feels so empty without you you know."
"I just want to see you walk through my door with a 'ta-da'. I need you little lady, my heart feels so empty without you you know." Blakeley, of Reading, has been charged with her murder and perverting the course of justice. He is due to appear at Oxford crown court for a plea hearing on 17 March.
Blakeley, of Christchurch Road, Reading, has been charged with her murder and perverting the course of justice and is due to appear at Oxford crown court for a plea hearing on 17 March next year. A 17-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, has been charged with perverting the course of justice between 3 and 10 December by assisting in the disposal of Jayden's body and other evidence.
A 17-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, has also been charged with perverting the course of justice between 3 and 10 December by assisting in the disposal of Jayden's body and other evidence.
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