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| Leah Croucher: Forensics in teen murder case could take weeks | Leah Croucher: Forensics in teen murder case could take weeks |
| (about 20 hours later) | |
| Leah Croucher, 19, was last seen on CCTV on 15 February 2019 in Milton Keynes | Leah Croucher, 19, was last seen on CCTV on 15 February 2019 in Milton Keynes |
| Police investigating the murder of teenager Leah Croucher said forensic examinations at a house where human remains were found could take weeks. | Police investigating the murder of teenager Leah Croucher said forensic examinations at a house where human remains were found could take weeks. |
| On Wednesday, police said unidentified remains and a rucksack and personal items belonging to the 19-year-old had been found at a Milton Keynes property. | On Wednesday, police said unidentified remains and a rucksack and personal items belonging to the 19-year-old had been found at a Milton Keynes property. |
| A post-mortem examination is due to take place on Friday but may "take some time", Thames Valley Police said. | A post-mortem examination is due to take place on Friday but may "take some time", Thames Valley Police said. |
| Meanwhile, Miss Croucher's parents visited the house on Thursday evening. | Meanwhile, Miss Croucher's parents visited the house on Thursday evening. |
| Leah Croucher's father John, mother Claire and sister Jade looked at flowers outside the house | Leah Croucher's father John, mother Claire and sister Jade looked at flowers outside the house |
| They arrived in a police vehicle just before 20:00 BST and were driven behind the cordon surrounding the property, on Loxbeare Drive in Furzton. | They arrived in a police vehicle just before 20:00 BST and were driven behind the cordon surrounding the property, on Loxbeare Drive in Furzton. |
| They reappeared some minutes later and laid flowers at a nearby memorial, made up of bouquets, teddy bears and candles left by members of the public. | They reappeared some minutes later and laid flowers at a nearby memorial, made up of bouquets, teddy bears and candles left by members of the public. |
| A note was left outside the house by Miss Croucher's parents | A note was left outside the house by Miss Croucher's parents |
| The teenager was last seen on CCTV in the Buckinghamshire city on Friday, 15 February 2019. | The teenager was last seen on CCTV in the Buckinghamshire city on Friday, 15 February 2019. |
| Police began searching the home on Monday evening, following a tip-off phone call from a member of the public. | Police began searching the home on Monday evening, following a tip-off phone call from a member of the public. |
| It was there they discovered a number of Miss Croucher's items, along with human remains. | It was there they discovered a number of Miss Croucher's items, along with human remains. |
| Forensic examinations at the scene may last "several weeks", the force said, and as a result there would continue to be a police presence both at the house and in the area. | Forensic examinations at the scene may last "several weeks", the force said, and as a result there would continue to be a police presence both at the house and in the area. |
| It would also "take some time" to formally identify the remains, police said. | It would also "take some time" to formally identify the remains, police said. |
| A message left on the flowers laid by Miss Croucher's parents said they would "cherish her memories forever". | A message left on the flowers laid by Miss Croucher's parents said they would "cherish her memories forever". |
| It said: "Our darkest fears have come true, we only need to be apart a little longer. We have so missed you for so long already. | It said: "Our darkest fears have come true, we only need to be apart a little longer. We have so missed you for so long already. |
| "The future looks so bleak now we know we will never see your smile or hear your laughter again. We will cherish your memories forever." | "The future looks so bleak now we know we will never see your smile or hear your laughter again. We will cherish your memories forever." |
| A handwritten message signed from "Nan and Grandad" was also tied to a bunch of yellow roses and left outside the property by a group of mourners. | A handwritten message signed from "Nan and Grandad" was also tied to a bunch of yellow roses and left outside the property by a group of mourners. |
| It read: "Our darling, we will never stop seeking answers. Will love and miss you always." | It read: "Our darling, we will never stop seeking answers. Will love and miss you always." |
| A note signed from "Nan and Grandad" was left outside the property | A note signed from "Nan and Grandad" was left outside the property |
| A police spokesman said Monday was the first time they had been alerted to the property, but it had been previously "visited as part of our house-to-house inquiries as part of the investigation". | A police spokesman said Monday was the first time they had been alerted to the property, but it had been previously "visited as part of our house-to-house inquiries as part of the investigation". |
| "There was no response at the property and as such leaflets would have been dropped through the letterbox," the force said. | "There was no response at the property and as such leaflets would have been dropped through the letterbox," the force said. |
| More than 4,000 homes have been visited and 1,200 hours of CCTV footage reviewed since Miss Croucher's disappearance on her way to work at a finance company three years ago. | More than 4,000 homes have been visited and 1,200 hours of CCTV footage reviewed since Miss Croucher's disappearance on her way to work at a finance company three years ago. |
| Det Ch Supt Ian Hunter asked people to remain respectful of Miss Croucher's family and thanked the local community for their "support and patience" as the investigation continued. | Det Ch Supt Ian Hunter asked people to remain respectful of Miss Croucher's family and thanked the local community for their "support and patience" as the investigation continued. |
| "We are absolutely committed to finding out what has happened to Leah," he said. | "We are absolutely committed to finding out what has happened to Leah," he said. |
| Flowers have been left near to where the search is taking place | Flowers have been left near to where the search is taking place |
| He made a "renewed and specific appeal" to anyone who may have been in the area of Loxbeare Drive on or around the day Miss Croucher went missing. | He made a "renewed and specific appeal" to anyone who may have been in the area of Loxbeare Drive on or around the day Miss Croucher went missing. |
| He said even with the passage of time "we remain hopeful that somebody may have a crucial piece of information". | He said even with the passage of time "we remain hopeful that somebody may have a crucial piece of information". |
| "No matter how insignificant you believe any information you may have will be, please contact us," he said. | "No matter how insignificant you believe any information you may have will be, please contact us," he said. |
| The property is less than half-a-mile (0.8km) from where Miss Croucher was last seen in Buzzacott Lane, Furzton, walking in the direction of Loxbeare Drive and Chaffron Way. | The property is less than half-a-mile (0.8km) from where Miss Croucher was last seen in Buzzacott Lane, Furzton, walking in the direction of Loxbeare Drive and Chaffron Way. |
| Human remains found in missing teen murder probe | Human remains found in missing teen murder probe |
| The quiet teenager who vanished on her way to work | The quiet teenager who vanished on her way to work |
| Forensics officers continue to work at the house where human remains were found | Forensics officers continue to work at the house where human remains were found |
| Thames Valley Police said detectives were likely to be at the scene "for some time" | Thames Valley Police said detectives were likely to be at the scene "for some time" |
| Tara Maher, 51, who lives nearby, said she saw the teenager most days, including on the day she went missing, just after 08:00 GMT. | Tara Maher, 51, who lives nearby, said she saw the teenager most days, including on the day she went missing, just after 08:00 GMT. |
| "It was no different that day - the 15th. We didn't say hello, it was more of an acknowledgment, just a nod." | "It was no different that day - the 15th. We didn't say hello, it was more of an acknowledgment, just a nod." |
| She gave a statement to police at the time she disappeared and helped with the community effort to find her, because she "did not want her to be forgotten". | She gave a statement to police at the time she disappeared and helped with the community effort to find her, because she "did not want her to be forgotten". |
| Tara Maher said she used to see Leah Croucher most days as she walked to work | Tara Maher said she used to see Leah Croucher most days as she walked to work |
| "This has come as such a shock. It's a nice area. It hits home when it is on your doorstep," she said. | "This has come as such a shock. It's a nice area. It hits home when it is on your doorstep," she said. |
| Ms Maher, who works at a local shop, said customers were usually jovial, but when the news came through on Wednesday "the whole mood changed", becoming "very sombre". | Ms Maher, who works at a local shop, said customers were usually jovial, but when the news came through on Wednesday "the whole mood changed", becoming "very sombre". |
| Bunches of flowers were left at the scene on Thursday with messages | Bunches of flowers were left at the scene on Thursday with messages |
| Loxbeare Drive runs south from the western tip of Furzton Lake in the south-west of the Buckinghamshire city | Loxbeare Drive runs south from the western tip of Furzton Lake in the south-west of the Buckinghamshire city |
| Iain Stewart, Conservative MP for Milton Keynes South, said it was "extremely upsetting to learn of the developments" in the case. | Iain Stewart, Conservative MP for Milton Keynes South, said it was "extremely upsetting to learn of the developments" in the case. |
| He said he was in contact with police about the situation. | He said he was in contact with police about the situation. |
| "My thoughts and prayers will continue to be with Leah's loved ones at this difficult time," he said. | "My thoughts and prayers will continue to be with Leah's loved ones at this difficult time," he said. |
| A police tent has been erected outside a house on Loxbeare Drive | A police tent has been erected outside a house on Loxbeare Drive |
| Forensics officers have been seen taking specialist equipment into the house | Forensics officers have been seen taking specialist equipment into the house |
| Leah Croucher: A timeline | Leah Croucher: A timeline |
| CCTV footage showed the last confirmed sighting of Leah Croucher walking to work on the day she disappeared | CCTV footage showed the last confirmed sighting of Leah Croucher walking to work on the day she disappeared |
| 14 February 2019: Leah Croucher is last seen by her parents at the family home in Quantock Crescent, Milton Keynes at 22:00 GMT | 14 February 2019: Leah Croucher is last seen by her parents at the family home in Quantock Crescent, Milton Keynes at 22:00 GMT |
| 15 February 2019: CCTV footage showed her walking down Buzzacott Lane in Furzton at 08:16. She was thought to be going to her job at a finance company, but she never arrived | 15 February 2019: CCTV footage showed her walking down Buzzacott Lane in Furzton at 08:16. She was thought to be going to her job at a finance company, but she never arrived |
| April 2019: Thames Valley Police said three people had reported possible sightings of Leah near Furzton Lake between 09:30 and 11:15, on the day she went missing | April 2019: Thames Valley Police said three people had reported possible sightings of Leah near Furzton Lake between 09:30 and 11:15, on the day she went missing |
| October 2019: A two-week search by Thames Valley Police of a lake and surrounding area at the Blue Lagoon nature reserve in Bletchley finds nothing | October 2019: A two-week search by Thames Valley Police of a lake and surrounding area at the Blue Lagoon nature reserve in Bletchley finds nothing |
| February 2021: On the second anniversary of her disappearance, police said there had been "no significant leads" and the case was "bewildering and frustrating" | February 2021: On the second anniversary of her disappearance, police said there had been "no significant leads" and the case was "bewildering and frustrating" |
| October 2022: Police open a murder investigation after unidentified human remains and a rucksack and personal possessions belonging to Leah are found at a property on Loxbeare Drive in Furzton | October 2022: Police open a murder investigation after unidentified human remains and a rucksack and personal possessions belonging to Leah are found at a property on Loxbeare Drive in Furzton |
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