TRAGIC FIND
Body found in search for missing woman Leah Daley, 24, who vanished without a trace near coast
Police say a body was found in undergrowth
A BODY has been found in the search for a missing 24-year-old woman who vanished nearly two weeks ago.
Leah Daley was last seen walking along the Kent coastline near Folkestone, Kent, on the evening of May 5.
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Cops put out multiple appeals to the public in the search for Leah but have now recovered the body of a woman from undergrowth.
They are yet to confirm the identity but Leah's family have been informed.
A Kent Police spokesperson said: "A body has been found during a search for a missing woman from Folkestone.
"The discovery was made in undergrowth at The Warren in Folkestone on the afternoon of Friday 17 May 2024.
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"While formal identification has not yet taken place, the family of a 24-year-old woman who was reported missing from the town has been informed."
Eerie CCTV had revealed some of Leah's last known steps near The Warren, a coastal stretch east of Folkestone.
She could be seen carrying an Adidas backpack, wearing a dark green Parka coat, patterned leggings, white and black Converse, with her hair pinned in a bun.
Cops said Leah, who is around 5ft4in tall with brown shoulder-length hair and blue eyes, was last seen around 7pm at The Warren, at the bottom of the main concrete path leading down to Martello tower to the beach.
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In a frantic appeal for information on Tuesday, her family said "people do not just vanish".
They added: "Our youngest Leah went missing nine days ago on Sunday May 5 and has not been found.
"For Leah not to have returned home without notifying the family, or any of her friends, is totally out of character.
"A lover and frequent walker of The Warren since childhood, Leah is familiar with the routes and surrounding areas."
Leah's family's statement in full
This statement was made by Leah's family before a body was found in the search for her:
'Our youngest Leah went missing nine days ago on Sunday May 5 and has not been found.
'For Leah not to have returned home without notifying the family, or any of her friends, is totally out of character.
'Since her disappearance we continue to work alongside police but have had no significant updates.
'The last signing of Lean was approximately 7pm at The Warren =- bottom of the main concrete path leading down to Martello tower to the beach.
A lover and frequent walker of The Warren since childhood, Leah is familiar with the routes and surrounding areas.
'Latest images show Leah walking from Tontine Street to The Warren via the Sunny Sands and Wear Bay Road, while listening to music on her JBL earbuds (3.30pm-4.30pm).
'Leah is wearing a dark green Parka coat, patterned leggings, black and white Converse trainers, a black Adidas backpack - her hair pinned in a bun.
'Did you see Leah on Sunday May 5? Did you speak to Leah or notice her in the Warren after 4.30pm?
'Extensive searches of sea and land have shown no trace of Leah.
'No additional information, sightings, CCTV or personal items have been recovered since the busy bank holiday Sunday - densely populated with campers, large groups, fishermen, and dog walkers - when she went missing.
'People do not just vanish. Please come forward and contact the police if you have any information. No piece of information is too insignificant. Please refrain from speculation and rumour as it will only hinder the search.
'We thank everyone for their support and assistance over the last nine days, especially Leah's friends and the local community who have devoted time, effort and resources to find her.
'In the face of our suffering, we vow as a family to keep going until Leah is found.
'On behalf of Leah we thank you all.'
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