COPS fear teenager Paige Doherty was stabbed to death by a maniac who she may
have known, it has emerged.
Officers were last night waiting for post mortem results, after it was
confirmed a body found in Clydebank near Glasgow was the missing schoolgirl,
15.
A source said: “Her death was violent.”
Detectives are also investigating if the teenager was killed elsewhere before
her body was dumped about a mile from her home.
Last night, they refused to rule out a sexual element to the crime.
The background to the hunt for her killer emerged as mum Pamela Munro paid
tribute to her “beautiful girl” — after a corpse found in Clydebank near
Glasgow was identified as Paige.
Pamela, 32, revealed the family horror in a statement on Facebook, also issued
on behalf of husband Andy — Paige’s stepdad.
She wrote: “Myself and Andy would like to thank everyone for their support and
help in trying to find our daughter.
“Unfortunately, we can confirm that it is our beautiful girl Paige who was
found in Clydebank.
“We are absolutely devastated, as will be many people who know her.”
Officers believe Paige — described by her loved ones as a “kind, friendly
girl” — may have met her doom at the hands of someone familiar with her
routine.
The official police announcement was made near where her body was found beside
Great Western Road by Detective Superintendent Duncan Sloan.
As he performed the grim task yesterday, forensics experts continued their
hunt for clues.
Det Supt Sloan, who is leading the hunt for the killer, said: “I can now
confirm the body of a 15-year-old girl who was found here was positively
identified as Paige Doherty.
“I want to announce that this is being treated as a murder investigation.”
The police major investigation team officer said: “I don’t yet know if the
attack on Paige took place here or if she was attacked somewhere else and
brought here later.
“That’s what we need to find out — I am asking for reports of any potential
sightings of Paige. Examination of the scene is still going on.”
He added: “I am keeping an open mind in terms of a motive.
“I cannot rule out a sexual element to the attack. That’s why we need as many
people as possible with any information to come forward.”
The last confirmed sighting of Paige was when she left a deli in Clydebank, at
around 8.20am on Saturday.
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It came 20 minutes after she left a friend’s house nearby around 20 minutes
earlier after a sleepover.
It is believed she was making her way to a bus stop to catch the 1A service
into Glasgow city centre.
From there she would have taken another bus to Kirkintilloch, Dunbartonshire,
where she planned to collect her wages from a part-time junior’s job at
Street Image hair salon.
But she never made the journey and the alarm was raised by her worried mum on
Saturday evening.
Frantic pleas were made for her safe return home before her body was found at
12.45pm on Monday next to a Goals football centre in her home town.
Det Supt Sloan said the lifestyles of the teenager, her family and friends
would be carefully “assessed”.
He urged locals or passers-by who saw any vehicles parked near the scene of
the grim discovery between Saturday and Monday afternoon to contact
officers.
In an appeal to the youngster’s pals, Det Supt Sloan added: “Please tell us if
Paige was in trouble.
“Why would anyone want to attack her? That is what we need to find out.” He
added: “Paige was a girl with a set course on where she wanted to take her
life.
“She had a future, a life, a plan in front of her. My condolences go out to
her family and friends.
“Clearly it is an extremely harrowing time for them.
“We will do all in our power to investigate this and bring some answers as to
the circumstances leading to the death of Paige.”
Forensic officers continued their search of the wasteland yesterday and a
large cordon remained in place around where the body was discovered.
Cops remained tight-lipped about whether a weapon had been recovered.
They also refused to reveal if Paige’s personal belongings, including her
mobile phone, had been recovered.
Officers in white protective suits were seen digging up plaster casts they had
made of footprints on the dirt track leading to the wooded area.
Numbered yellow markers were also put down to indicate “points of interest” at
the spot, just yards from the busy road.
Officers are also trawling through masses of CCTV footage to build up a
picture of Paige’s movements after she was last seen alive.
Film from security cameras across the Clydebank area has been pooled and is
being reviewed by detectives.
Paige was a pupil at Turnbull High School in Bishopbriggs, near Glasgow.
Laura Mason, chief education officer at West Dunbartonshire Council, said:
“She was a bright and popular pupil with a good sense of humour.
“Our thoughts are with Paige’s family and friends.
“We are doing everything we can to support our young people at this sad time.”
Police said full details of how Paige died cannot be confirmed until a post
mortem examination is completed.
An incident room has been set up by officers. Anyone with information about
Paige’s murder is asked to call 0141 532 5415 or 0141 532 5433.
GRIEF-stricken pals flooded social media with tributes to the teenager
yesterday.
One said simply “Absolutely lost for words — sleep tight.”
It was shared with 17,000 followers of a support group called Help Find Paige
when it was launched to assist the hunt for the missing girl.
A photo of her with close friend Dylan Kane was liked more than 400 times
after he posted it.
Street Image hairdresser in Kirkintilloch, Dunbartonshire, — where Paige
worked as a junior — sent a touching message of condolence to her mother
Pamela and the Doherty family.
An unnamed boss wrote: “It is still unbelievable that I am writing these
words. My team and I are absolutely shattered with the loss of Paige — a
blessing to have in our lives.
“We cannot begin to imagine the pain Pamela and her family are feeling at this
time.
“Thank you for all the kind words and messages we will pass them on.”
A note left near where Paige’s body was found, signed “dad of five girls”,
ended “rest in peace little lady”.
A tribute online by X Factor runner-up Nicky McDonald, 19, from Motherwell,
added: “Prayers and thoughts go out to Paige Doherty and her family. Such
sad news. God bless them”
Among the comments from pals, Gillian McKnight said: “Sleep soundly gorgeous
girl — know how very loved you were and how many thousands of hearts are
aching for you and your family.”
Pamela Neeson added: “Thinking of you all.
“So glad I had the chance to meet Paige — what a cheery young girl she was.
Always there with a smile on her face.”