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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Missing girl 1926 inquiry resumes | Missing girl 1926 inquiry resumes |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Detectives have reopened an 83-year-old case of a missing teenage girl who may have been murdered. | Detectives have reopened an 83-year-old case of a missing teenage girl who may have been murdered. |
| Emma Alice Smith, 16, was last seen in 1926 as she set off on her bicycle from her home in Waldron, East Sussex, to Horam railway station. | Emma Alice Smith, 16, was last seen in 1926 as she set off on her bicycle from her home in Waldron, East Sussex, to Horam railway station. |
| An investigation was started but her body was never found. | An investigation was started but her body was never found. |
| Sussex Police have now revealed that a member of family has indicated that she may have been murdered and her body dumped in a nearby pond. | Sussex Police have now revealed that a member of family has indicated that she may have been murdered and her body dumped in a nearby pond. |
| The case has been reopened by the force's major crime branch. | The case has been reopened by the force's major crime branch. |
| 'Proper burial' | 'Proper burial' |
| Det Ch Insp Trevor Bowles said: "This is a very unusual case. | Det Ch Insp Trevor Bowles said: "This is a very unusual case. |
| "We have been approached by a member of Emma's family who has indicated that there is a possibility that she was murdered close to Waldron or Horam and that her body was disposed of locally. | "We have been approached by a member of Emma's family who has indicated that there is a possibility that she was murdered close to Waldron or Horam and that her body was disposed of locally. |
| Given the years which have passed this is inevitably a difficult task Det Ch Insp Trevor Bowles | |
| "Clearly the family are keen to trace the body of Emma, if that is possible, in order that she can be given a proper burial and laid to rest with her close family." | "Clearly the family are keen to trace the body of Emma, if that is possible, in order that she can be given a proper burial and laid to rest with her close family." |
| He added: "I am keen to hear from anyone locally who may recall the disappearance of Emma. | He added: "I am keen to hear from anyone locally who may recall the disappearance of Emma. |
| "A number of local people have already assisted us and have been able to fill in some of the many gaps which exist. | "A number of local people have already assisted us and have been able to fill in some of the many gaps which exist. |
| "Given the years which have passed this is inevitably a difficult task." | "Given the years which have passed this is inevitably a difficult task." |
| A short film based on the disappearance of Emma Smith was screened for the first time in Waldron on Sunday. | |
| Police said the film, called Finding Esther, was made by the local amateur dramatics society, Waldron Community Players. | |
| Mr Bowles, who attended the viewing, addressed the audience about the police investigation into the case. |