Advertisement

Gaia Pope: No others were involved in teenager's death, police say

No one else was involved in Gaia Pope's death, police have said: PA
No one else was involved in Gaia Pope's death, police have said: PA

No one else was involved in the death of teenager Gaia Pope, according to police.

The 19-year-old's body was found on Saturday afternoon by specialist search teams on land south of Swanage - close to where clothing belonging to the teenager was found on Thursday.

Dorset Police said a post-mortem examination had not identified any injuries to suggest third party involvement and Miss Pope's death was being treated as "unexplained".

The teenager, who suffered from severe epilepsy, had not been seen for 11 days and her disappearance prompted a massive campaign from family and friends to find her.

Floral tributes for Gaia Pope are left at the King Alfred Monument on the seafront in Swanage (PA)
Floral tributes for Gaia Pope are left at the King Alfred Monument on the seafront in Swanage (PA)

Detective Superintendent Paul Kessell, of Dorset Police's major crime investigation team, said: "The post-mortem examination has not identified any injuries to suggest any other person was involved in her death. The cause of death is undetermined pending toxicology.

"The coroner is involved in the oversight of these examinations but at this time this remains an investigation into an unexplained death.

"We would like to take this further opportunity to pass our thoughts to Gaia's family who we continue to support and who ask for respect of their privacy at this incredibly stressful time.

Richard Sutherland joins the hunt for his daughter (PA)
Richard Sutherland joins the hunt for his daughter (PA)

"Once again I would like to pass our thanks to the public volunteers and partner organisations who have supported this inquiry throughout and have been material in locating Gaia.

"The area where the body was located is likely to remain cordoned off for some time while forensic examinations and searches are concluded.”

Gaia was missing for 19 days (PA)
Gaia was missing for 19 days (PA)

Miss Pope's twin sister, Maya, spoke of her heartbreak and vowed to "make her so proud".

Paying tribute to the teenager, Miss Pope-Sutherland, wrote on Facebook: "Can't find any words right now. Gaia is my everything and I am heartbroken. I thank everyone who was involved in searching for my beautiful twin. Going to make her so proud."

Floral tributes have begun to be left on the Alfred Monument, next to the sea front.

The news of the discovery of Miss Pope's body on Saturday night came hours after hundreds of people joined searches.

Miss Pope's father, Richard Sutherland, was among them and personally thanked members of the public who had gathered at Durlston Country Park.

Earlier, Mr Sutherland said he feared his daughter's epilepsy may have played a part in her disappearance as she had been warned by doctors that she was at risk of sudden death from the condition.

Detectives have arrested and released under investigation three people, a 71-year-old woman, a 19-year-old man and a 49-year-old man, named locally as Paul Elsey.

Miss Pope had not been seen since about 4pm on November 7 in Manor Gardens, Swanage.

An hour earlier she was captured on CCTV buying an ice cream inside St Michael's Garage in the town, having been driven there by a relative.

She was said to be wearing a red checked shirt with white buttons, grey and white woven leggings and white trainers. The black jacket she had on was recovered from an address in Manor Gardens.

Forensic investigations have concluded at two properties in Manor Gardens, which are believed to be linked to the people arrested.