Bobbi-Anne McLeod: Teen’s mum fights back tears & pays heartbreaking tribute to murdered daughter at emotional vigil
THE mum of murdered teen Bobbi-Anne Mcleod tonight fought back tears as she paid tribute to her daughter during an emotional candlelight vigil.
Donna McLeod thanked friends, family and the wider community for their support as she spoke publicly about her daughter's death for the first time.
The heartbroken mum was joined by hundreds of mourners who paid their respects to Bobbi, 18, near to the Plymouth bus stop where she vanished on Saturday.
Surrounded by other family members, Mrs McLeod's voice trembled as she completed a prepared statement.
She said: "I would like to thank everyone for coming, on behalf of the family. It's nice everyone is coming together in the circumstances.
"Unfortunately, our beautiful Bobbi-Anne has been taken from us, but she will never be forgotten.
"I'd like everyone to hold their candles up. This is for Bobbi-Anne".
Her words were followed by a moment of silence as the entire crowd held up their candles in unison.
Tonight's vigil and tributes were held next to the bus stop where Bobbi-Anne vanished on Saturday.
Earlier, the teen's family including her parents, grandparents and siblings, left their home and walked the short distance to the bus stop flanked by dozens more supporters, carrying balloons.
The family group then held up their candles in unison before releasing around 40 balloons into the sky.
One onlooker said: "It was a really touching, emotional moment as Bobbi-Anne's mother hugged her daughters and many of us started sobbing."
The family also left a book for people to write loving memories about her as they looked on and embraced.
Unfortunately, our beautiful Bobbi-Anne has been taken from us, but she will never be forgotten.
Donna McLeod
Chilling details of Bobbi-Anne's final journey emerged yesterday after she left her home at 6pm to meet her boyfriend Louie Leach.
The teen was last seen at a nearby bus stop 15 minutes later - with her headphones and a pouch of tobacco later discovered on grass nearby.
After she failed to meet with her boyfriend of six months, he raised the alarm.
Police today confirmed Bobbi was snatched and murdered by a stranger as they continued searching a home close to where she vanished.
Laying flowers just before the vigil, close friends Ellie and Summer, both 18, said they felt "sick" knowing what had happened.
Ellie said: "She was just the nicest kid I've ever met in my life, it's the nicest ones who are taken early, and it's just horrible. Nobody deserves to be treated like that.
"When you're so local, and when you know Bobbi, it hits home so hard how vulnerable you can be. I just don't know what to say about it - there are no words."
Summer said: "It just makes me feel sick, how can anyone do this? Who wakes up in the morning and thinks they're going to do that to a girl?"
Forensic officers were seen combing for clues at a house in Devon last night and this morning as the murder probe continues.
A semi-detached home has been cordoned off by police, who haven't confirmed whether or not the raid is connected to Bobbi-Anne's death.
Police launched a huge search after the teen disappeared and were seen over the past three days carrying out painstaking fingertip searches on grassland.
Officers were also posted at the entrance to the underpass where Bobbi-Anne had made her way to the bus stop before she disappeared.
A road leading down to the popular beach, which is nestled below cliffs, has now been cordoned off.
Formal identification is yet to take place but Bobbi-Anne's family have been informed of the development and are being supported by investigators.
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Chief Superintendent Matt Longman said: "This is weighing heavy on the people of Plymouth tonight, it really is.
"And I would just like to send my thoughts to the friends and family of Bobbi-Anne; that actually feels like it's a relatively inadequate thing to say at such a time."