Three arrested over Gaia Pope disappearance released from police investigation

Three people arrested in connection with the disappearance of Gaia Pope have been released from police investigation without any further action.

Dorset Police said no-one else was involved in the death of the 19-year-old, whose body was found on Saturday afternoon by specialist search teams on land south of Swanage, near to where some of her clothing was recovered.

Map locates where body was found
Map locates where body was found

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

Detective Superintendent Paul Kessell, of Dorset Police's Major Crime Investigation Team, said: "Following the results of the post-mortem examination and other ongoing investigative inquiries, we have concluded that no-one else was involved in Gaia's death.

#LatestNews Three people arrested in connection with the disappearance of Gaia Pope have this morning been released from police investigation without any further action.

https://t.co/Ntehwywg7Q

-- Dorset Police (@dorsetpolice) November 20, 2017

"As such we have today released from our investigation two men aged 19 and 49 and a 71-year-old woman, all from Swanage, who had been arrested and were assisting with our inquiries.

"I appreciate our inquiries would have caused these individuals stress and anxiety, however we have an obligation in any missing person investigation to explore every possible line of inquiry.

"The public would expect Dorset Police to fully investigate the sudden disappearance of a teenage girl.

"Our aim was not only to find Gaia but to find out what happened to her.

"Gaia's family has been informed of this latest development and our thoughts remain with all her family and friends at this incredibly difficult time."

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