Body of woman who vanished alongside twin 3 weeks ago is ‘found in river’ – as hunt for sister continues
It comes after cops said they had ended searches of the River Dee and harbour area
COPS have found the body of a woman “in a river” after two sisters vanished three weeks ago.
Eliza and Henrietta Huszti – part of a set of triplets – were last seen on January 7 at 2.12am in Market Street at Victoria Bridge, Aberdeen.
A huge missing persons search was launched amid fears for their safety in freezing weather conditions.
Now, the force have confirmed the body of a woman has been recovered from the water near Aberdeen Boat Club.
While the body has not been formally ID’d, the family of Henrietta have been informed, said cops.
Searches remain ongoing for her sister Eliza, who was also reported missing in the area at the same time.
Enquiries are ongoing but there are no apparent suspicious circumstances.
Police were seen deploying drones over the river as they ramp up the search.
Cops said they had ended searches of the River Dee and harbour area on Monday.
Superintendent David Howieson said: “Our thoughts are with the Huszti family today. We are keeping them fully updated following this recovery and the further search activity which is ongoing.
“Our priority remains finding both of the sisters and search has focused on the River Dee and will do so in the coming days.
“Nothing from our extensive enquiries so far suggest either sister left the immediate area after they were last seen on Tuesday, 7 January. There is also nothing to suggest any suspicious circumstances or criminality.”
“We are carrying out further searches of the river in the area where the body was recovered this morning.
“The river in this area is tidal and conditions are challenging but we will continue to search and make every effort to locate both of the sisters.
“We have sought guidance from a number of experts and this will continue to inform our search activity.”
A public appeal was launched after the sisters, both 32, disappeared from the city’s Market Street at the Victoria Bridge over the river at around 2.12am.
The landlord of the missing sisters had expressed concern for their welfare after many of their “personal possessions” were discovered inside the property.
The women were also planning on moving out of their flat “immediately”.
Loved ones said it was unusual for them to be outside late at night.
Brother Jozsef said their mum spoke to them before they went missing and they seemed “fine”.
Their triplet sister Edit had a video call with them on Hogmanay and said they appeared “happy and cheerful”.
The pair, originally from Hungary, moved to the UK six years ago and have worked in Aberdeen since.
Eliza and Henrietta were both described as white and of slim build with long, brown hair.
Henrietta worked in a Costa Coffee branch in the city minutes from home, while Eliza is said to have enjoyed cooking.
RIVER 'SCREAM' HORROR
COPS probed claims that screams were heard by a river at the time two sisters vanished there, it emerged.
It’s understood noises were heard in Aberdeen in the early hours of Tuesday that could have been alarming cries.
The sounds raised concerns and officers are trying to work out whether there is a link to missing women Eliza and Henrietta Huszti, both 32.
But detectives don’t think anyone is involved in their disappearance and are not treating it as suspicious.
One resident said: “Everyone is talking about this. It was pretty scary stuff.
“A woman screaming out in the darkness is going to raise some red flags.”
After last being seen on in the Market Street area, the sisters are said to have headed to an unlit river in sub-zero temperatures.
They then turned right on to a footpath next to the River Dee.
The steep unpaved path was covered in ice at that time and hard to tackle even in daylight.
Officers spoke to pedestrians and motorists in the area to try and shed more light on the sisters’ movements.
They also urged businesses in and around the South Esplanade and Menzies Road area to review their CCTV footage.
Cops said the sisters had one mobile phone with them but other devices were found at their home.
Police treated the investigation as a missing persons inquiry rather than a criminal probe.
Superintendent David Howieson said a theory was they had “entered the water for reasons unknown”.
Timeline in search for missing sisters
A BODY has been found in a river as police search for missing twin sisters who disappeared over two weeks ago.
Eliza and Henrietta Huszti, both 32, were last seen on CCTV near the Victoria Bridge in Aberdeen around 2:12AM on Tuesday 7 January.
Here is a timeline in the search for the missing sisters:
December 31
Sister Edit said she had spoken to both her siblings on New Year’s Eve.
January 4
Brother Jozsef speaks to the pair over the phone.
January 6
Caught on camera carrying rucksacks and visiting the River Dee at around 2.50pm.
January 7
Sisters disappeared from the city’s Market Street at the Victoria Bridge over the river at around 2.12am.
January 8
Landlady reports her concerns to the police and divers are called in to search the waters of the River Dee.
January 17
Police release the new CCTV image of the sisters walking near Victoria Bridge on the day before their disappearance.
January 27
Searches of the River Dee had been brought to an end.
January 31
Police were alerted to a body seen in the river and it was recovered from the water.
