Human remains discovered in Kent amid investigation into disappearance of Sarah Everard
Police searching for missing Sarah Everard have discovered human remains in woodland in Ashford, Kent.
The 33-year-old went missing on Wednesday March 3 while walking to her home in Brixton from nearby Clapham in South London.
A serving Metropolitan Police officer was arrested on Tuesday night on suspicion of kidnap and later of murder.
Tonight, Met Commissioner Cressida Dick told a news briefing: “This evening detectives and search teams investigating Sarah’s disappearance have found, very sadly, what appears to be human remains in an area of woodland in Ashford in Kent.”
She said the arrest of one of her officers had “sent shockwaves and anger” and that the entire force is “utterly appalled at this dreadful news”.
She added that investigators have not been able to confirm the victim’s identity and this “may take some considerable time”.
The arrested officer, who was not on duty at the time of Ms Everard’s disappearance, is also being held on a separate allegation of indecent exposure.
Neighbours in the quiet road in Deal where he lives described seeing him being led from his home in handcuffs on Tuesday evening by Met Police officers.
Detectives in forensics suits began searching his house on Tuesday night and on Wednesday removed two cars from outside the property.
Police were also understood to be searching his locker in the Palace of Westminster where his role includes protecting MPs and dignitaries.
A tent was erected outside a property in the town and a large police presence was in the area, including teams with sniffer dogs.
Two police officers stood outside the property while forensic officers wearing blue full body suits, white plastic boots and disposable face masks were seen coming in and out of the tent carrying black bin bags full of items out of the house.
A police helicopter was also seen circling overhead this morning, Wednesday.
Plain-clothed officers were seen speaking to next door neighbours while a Kent County Council community warden was also in attendance.
Ms Everard, 33, disappeared last Wednesday as she walked home from a friend’s house in Leathwaite Road, Clapham, She set off on foot for the 50 minute walk back to her flat between Tulse Hill and Brixton.
The last image of her was captured on CCTV on Poynders Road, on the South Circular, at around 9.30pm.
Assistant Commissioner Nick Ephgrave, one of the Met’s most senior officers, added: “The arrest is a serious and significant development.
“We will continue to work with all speed on this investigation but the fact that the arrested man is a serving Metropolitan Police officer is both shocking and deeply disturbing.
“I understand there will be significant public concern but it is essential that the investigative team are given the time and space to continue their work.”
Sadiq Khan the Mayor of London said: “I can only imagine the pain and terrible agonies that Sarah Everard’s family and friends are going through right now. My thoughts and prayers are with them.
He added: “All women and girls should be able to feel safe on the streets of London at all times, and I know how shocked and worried Londoners are by Sarah’s disappearance and the developments in the case.”
“I know how concerned the public will be at the news that a serving police officer has been arrested, and it is right that the case has been referred to the police watchdog for independent investigation.
On Tuesday detectives searching for Ms Everard examined the area around a block of flats just yards from where she disappeared seven days ago.
Police in white forensics suits were seen entering Poynders Court after the colleagues cordoned the area off at around 4pm yesterday.
Earlier officers were seen examining bins behind the complex as well as a set of lock up garages to the side of the plot.
Superintendent Kris Wright, from the Met’s Central South Area Command Unit which covers Clapham, said: “I know that Sarah’s disappearance is weighing on people’s minds and the local community is, of course, concerned about her and may even feel worried.
“I want them to know that they should expect to see more police officers on patrol in the area as we continue to search for Sarah and talk with the community.
“If you want to approach them about any concerns you have, please do so. We are here to support the community and we genuinely want to help in any way we can.”
Her boyfriend, Josh Louth, 33, who also works in marketing and lives in South London, is believed to have been the last person to speak to her on the phone before she disappeared as she walked home last Wednesday evening.
It is understood she spoke to Mr Louth as she made her way home and the pair arranged to meet the following day.
At around 9.30pm she was picked up by a doorbell camera close to the junction of Poynders Road and Cavendish Road.
Police had a huge team of officers scouring CCTV footage from the numerous cameras positioned along the busy south circular road, where she was walking.
Miss Everard’s parents, Jeremy, 67, a professor of electronics at York University, and Sue, 63, travelled from their home in York to help in the search.
Her aunt, Jane Everard told the Telegraph: “She is a very kind and beautiful person and has such a big circle of friends.
“It is absolutely unbelievable that this has happened. I cannot stress how organised and together she is so wandering off is just not something she would do.
“Nobody can believe that anybody would want to do something to her.”
Everard moved to London about 12 years ago. She has a brother and a sister who also live in the city.
The marketing executive grew up in York where she attended nearby comprehensive Fulford School. Her old headmaster Steve Lewis this week called Everard a “popular and well-liked member of our community”, and “a lovely, bright, intelligent girl who shone within the school.”
Everard later studied human geography at St Cuthbert’s College at Durham University from 2005 to 2008 before moving to London and starting work as a marketing account manager.
Everard worked at several marketing and PR agencies in London, graduating from senior account manager to group account director between 2009 and 2020, according to LinkedIn.
Last month, she started a new job at Flipside Group, a digital media agency based in Holborn. On her LinkedIn profile, Everard describes herself as a “positive presence” with a “caring attitude for [her] work and team” and friends say she had been looking forward to starting the new position.
Her boyfriend Josh Lowth, a marketing director at MA Exhibitions, which organises trade shows, according to his LinkedIn page.
On Monday, International Women’s Day, he posted on Facebook: “Today, more than ever, we miss our strong, beautiful friend,” alongside the hashtag #internationalwomensday and an illustration from artist Charlie Mackesy begging people to join the search. He also changed his profile picture to the words ‘Find Sarah Everard’.
TIMELINE OF EVENTS IN THE INVESTIGATION
Wednesday 3 March: Sarah Everard, 33, a marketing executive, goes missing after leaving a friend’s house in Clapham, around 9pm.
Saturday 6 March: Metropolitan police raise the alarm, saying it was “totally out of character” for Everard not to be in contact with family and friends. Police release a CCTV image of her, saying she was thought to have walked through Clapham Common after leaving her friend’s flat, heading towards her home in Brixton, a journey of around 50 minutes.
Sunday 7 March: Police release footage taken from a private doorbell-type camera showing Everard was walking alone along the A205 Poynders Road towards Tulse Hill, just south of Brixton. Police say it is unclear whether or not she reached her house. She was last seen wearing a green rain jacket, navy blue trousers with a white diamond pattern and turquoise and orange trainers, and was thought to have been wearing green earphones and a white beanie hat. Scotland Yard says the investigation is being led by its Specialist Crime Command because of the “complex nature” of the probe, which combines searches with house-to-house inquiries.
Monday 8 March: Scotland Yard says it remains “open minded as to all possibilities”, while confirming a missing persons investigation. Specialist officers are drafted in from across the Met. Police say they have received more than 120 calls from the public on the case and ask anyone who may have relevant dashcam or other footage to come forward.
Tuesday 9 March: Police use sniffer dogs to search gardens in streets around the search site near Everard’s envisaged route home and in the nearby Oaklands Estate.
Officers also search a pond in Clapham Common and drains along the A205. The Met sets up a cordon around the Poynders Court housing complex on Poynders Road as part of the search, with forensics officers seen examining the area.
11.59pm, Tuesday 9 March: The Met says it has arrested a police officer at an address in Kent in connection with Everard’s disappearance, with a woman arrested at the same location on suspicion of assisting an offender. The man and the woman are taken into custody. Detective Chief Inspector Katherine Goodwin says the force is still “doing everything we can to find Sarah”.
8.25pm, Wednesday 10 March: Met Commissioner Cressida Dick tells a news briefing: “This evening detectives and search teams investigating Sarah’s disappearance have found, very sadly, what appears to be human remains in an area of woodland in Ashford in Kent.
“As you can imagine, at this early stage we are not able to confirm any identity and indeed this may take us some time.
“Specialist officers have been with Sarah’s family to update them on the investigation and to continue to support them as best we possibly can.”
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