Leah Croucher: Forensics in teen murder case could take weeks

Police investigating the execution of teen Leah Croucher said forensic examinations astatine a location wherever quality remains were recovered could instrumentality weeks.

On Wednesday, constabulary said unidentified remains and a rucksack and idiosyncratic items belonging to the 19-year-old had been recovered astatine a Milton Keynes property.

A post-mortem introspection is owed to instrumentality spot connected Friday but whitethorn "take immoderate time", Thames Valley Police said.

Meanwhile, Miss Croucher's parents visited the location connected Thursday evening.

They arrived successful a constabulary conveyance conscionable earlier 20:00 BST and were driven down the cordon surrounding the property, connected Loxbeare Drive successful Furzton.

They reappeared immoderate minutes aboriginal and laid flowers astatine a adjacent memorial, made up of bouquets, teddy bears and candles near by members of the public.

The teen was past seen connected CCTV successful the Buckinghamshire metropolis connected Friday, 15 February 2019.

Police began searching the location connected Monday evening, pursuing a tip-off telephone telephone from a subordinate of the public.

It was determination they discovered a fig of Miss Croucher's items, on with quality remains.

Forensic examinations astatine the country whitethorn past "several weeks", the unit said, and arsenic a effect determination would proceed to beryllium a constabulary beingness some astatine the location and successful the area.

It would besides "take immoderate time" to formally place the remains, constabulary said.

A connection near connected the flowers laid by Miss Croucher's parents said they would "cherish her memories forever".

It said: "Our darkest fears person travel true, we lone request to beryllium isolated a small longer. We person truthful missed you for truthful agelong already.

"The aboriginal looks truthful bleak present we cognize we volition ne'er spot your grin oregon perceive your laughter again. We volition cherish your memories forever."

A handwritten connection signed from "Nan and Grandad" was besides tied to a clump of yellowish roses and near extracurricular the spot by a radical of mourners.

It read: "Our darling, we volition ne'er halt seeking answers. Will emotion and miss you always."

A constabulary spokesperson said Monday was the archetypal clip they had been alerted to the property, but it had been antecedently "visited arsenic portion of our house-to-house inquiries arsenic portion of the investigation".

"There was nary effect astatine the spot and arsenic specified leaflets would person been dropped done the letterbox," the unit said.

More than 4,000 homes person been visited and 1,200 hours of CCTV footage reviewed since Miss Croucher's disappearance connected her mode to enactment astatine a concern institution 3 years ago.

Det Ch Supt Ian Hunter asked radical to stay respectful of Miss Croucher's household and thanked the section assemblage for their "support and patience" arsenic the probe continued.

"We are perfectly committed to uncovering retired what has happened to Leah," helium said.

He made a "renewed and circumstantial appeal" to anyone who whitethorn person been successful the country of Loxbeare Drive connected oregon astir the time Miss Croucher went missing.

He said adjacent with the transition of clip "we stay hopeful that idiosyncratic whitethorn person a important portion of information".

"No substance however insignificant you judge immoderate accusation you whitethorn person volition be, delight interaction us," helium said.

The spot is little than half-a-mile (0.8km) from wherever Miss Croucher was past seen successful Buzzacott Lane, Furzton, walking successful the absorption of Loxbeare Drive and Chaffron Way.

Tara Maher, 51, who lives nearby, said she saw the teen astir days, including connected the time she went missing, conscionable aft 08:00 GMT.

"It was nary antithetic that time - the 15th. We didn't accidental hello, it was much of an acknowledgment, conscionable a nod."

She gave a connection to constabulary astatine the clip she disappeared and helped with the assemblage effort to find her, due to the fact that she "did not privation her to beryllium forgotten".

"This has travel arsenic specified a shock. It's a bully area. It hits location erstwhile it is connected your doorstep," she said.

Ms Maher, who works astatine a section shop, said customers were usually jovial, but erstwhile the quality came done connected Wednesday "the full temper changed", becoming "very sombre".

Iain Stewart, Conservative MP for Milton Keynes South, said it was "extremely upsetting to larn of the developments" successful the case.

He said helium was successful interaction with constabulary astir the situation.

"My thoughts and prayers volition proceed to beryllium with Leah's loved ones astatine this hard time," helium said.