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Gaia Pope last sighting claims by Swanage driver who thinks dashcam footage shows missing teen leaning into mystery car yards from clothes
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The last confirmed CCTV sighting of Gaia, who suffers from severe epilepsy, shows her running towards the home of Rosemary Dinch, 71, at 3.39pm on Tuesday November 7.
She is one of three people who have been arrested on suspicion of murder in connection with the disappearance of Gaia.
The 71-year-old and her grandson Nathan Elsey, 19, were both taken into custody six days after Gaia was last seen, but later released.
Last night, Nathan's uncle Paul Elsey, 49, became the third person to be arrested, and is currently being quizzed by cops.
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It came hours after a pile of women's clothes "similar to those worn by Gaia" were found in a field.
Speaking to Good Morning Britain today, Gaia's father Richard Sutherland said he feared his teen daughter's epilepsy had "played a big part" in her disappearance.
He said: "There's a lot to say about her, she is a typical teenager in many ways.
"She has a great spirit, she has a big heart, she is a very loving girl.
Father of Gaia Pope appeals to the public for help to find his missing teen
"She had great ambitions in her life to be in nursing or in some sort of health and social care and for a while now, the epilepsy has been holding her back.
"It's entirely possible that her epilepsy has played a big part in this, and that has meant it's been more difficult to find her."
The family also appealed for the public to scour their CCTV for any possible sightings of Gaia after a driver captured dashcam footage, possibly of the teen, just yards from where the clothes were found.
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Describing the sighting, the driver said: "I saw someone leaning into the car, as if they were talking to someone.
"It looked like they had just been dropped off and they were saying goodbye.
"It's a strange place to stop."
As Paul Elsey continues to be quizzed over the teen's disappearance, his father Greg defended him last night - describing him as "110 per cent innocent".
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He said: "I'm totally disgusted. Paul's solicitor has asked me not to say anything.
"You will be gobsmacked how the police have formed [their investigation]. Absolutely disgusting.
"I can't say anything more but you will find out and you will be disgusted, the same as I was."
Father and cousin of Gaia Pope concerned that her severe epilepsy may have played a part in her disappearance
Speaking outside his home, he said he picked up his son in Southampton, Hants, yesterday and said he was being held at Poole Police Station.
He added: "The two fellows [police officers] that came here, I said they were a nice couple of fellows. Well, I've changed my mind."
Today members of the Find Gaia Facebook page called on the BBC to include an appeal for the missing teen on tonight's Children in Need.
Missing teenager Gaia Pope's father makes emotional appeal to find his daughter
Police fear Gaia, who has epilepsy and PTSD, has come to harm after disappearing last Tuesday.
Detective Superintendent Paul Kessell, of Dorset police, said last night: "We have arrested a 49-year-old man on suspicion of murder.
"He is believed to be known to Gaia and from the Swanage area.
"Also today a member of the public identified clothing south of Priestly Road in Swanage similar to that worn by Gaia."
It is not yet known who owns the clothes found abandoned on a field 200m from the cliffs between Dancing Ledge and Anvil Point south of Swanage.
CCTV of 19-year-old Dorset girl Gaia Pope on the day she went missing
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On Tuesday night cops seized a car belonging to Paul Elsey, who lives at the house where the student was last seen in a distressed state nine days ago.
Confirming the pile of female clothing found yesterday morning at 10.28 in the Swanage field, Detective Chief
Inspector Neil Devoto, said: "Following the discovery of these items of clothing, a full and thorough search will now take place in the field and surrounding area.
"We have seized the clothing and investigations will now be carried out to identify who they belong to."
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Dorset Police say man, 49, arrested on suspicion of murdering missing Gaia Pope
Timeline leading up to Gaia's disappearance: The last known whereabouts of Gaia Pope
GAIA Pope went missing on Tuesday, November 7 - here's what we know about her whereabouts on that day.
- Gaia was seen buying an ice cream at 2.55pm at St Michael's Garage on Valley Road, Swanage. She had been travelling with a family member between Langton Matravers and Swanage.
- At 3.39pm she was caught on CCTV running down Morrison Road, Swanage, two miles away. Her family say the image is "frightening" because they don't know the story behind why she was running.
- Rosemary Dinch claims Gaia came to her house in Manor Garden, Morrison Road, Swanage, at 4pm. The 71-year-old was later arrested alongside her grandson Nathan Elsey on suspicion of Gaia's murder. They were released under investigation.
- Dashcam footage appearing to show the teen leaning into a car was captured at 11.35pm in Langton Matravers on the night Gaia vanished.
Mr Devoto added: "We are doing everything possible to try and locate Gaia.
"I would like to renew my appeal to anyone who has information about where Gaia is or what has happened to her to please contact Dorset Police.
"I am also urging anyone who has seen any suspicious activity in the area of Morrison Road and Priests Way since November 7 to please contact us."
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Rosemary Dinch, 71, arrested on suspicion of Gaia Pope murder, gave interview to BBC TV reporter
Gaia’s frantic family renewed their appeals for help on social media.
Her mum, Natasha, from Langton Matravers, near Swanage, said she feared Gaia had been kidnapped.
She urged people to check “the back of vans, garages, anywhere Gaia might be hidden or could be kept against her will”.
What has happened so far during the investigation into Gaia Pope's disappearance?
ON Tuesday, November 7, 19-year-old Gaia Pope was reported missing by her family - but what happened next?
Wednesday, November 8
- Gaia Pope'a family make an appeal to her to get in contact. In a statement, they said: "We are all frantic with worry Gaia and are desperate to know you are ok."
Thursday, November 9
- Police continue to carry out searches in the area. Chief Inspector Heather Dixey, of Dorset Police, said: “We are concerned for Gaia’s welfare and are making every effort to try and locate her."
Friday, November 9
- Dorset Police make a renewed appeal to find the missing teenager, with an updated description of what she was wearing when she was last seen. She was said to be wearing a red checked shirt with white buttons, grey and white woven leggings and white trainers.
- They reveal the last reported sighting of Gaia was at an address in Manor Gardens on Morrison Road at around 4pm.
Saturday, November 10
- Cops released CCTV footage of Gaia Pope running down Morrison Road, Swanage, at 3.39pm on Tuesday, November 7.
Monday, November 13
- Search warrants took place at two addresses in Swanage.
- In an emotional interview Rosemary Dinch, 71, tells local BBC TV that Gaia had banged on her door “very upset” on the day she disappeared.
- 90 minutes later, Rosemary is arrested on suspicion of murder alongside her 19-year-old grandson Nathan Elsey.
Tuesday, November 14
- The pensioner arrested on suspicion of murder is released under investigation.
- Later that day the 19-year-old is also released by police.
- Gaia Pope's family release another statement about the missing teen, emphasising that the search for Gaia continues.
Wednesday, November 15
- Greg Elsey says Gaia turned up in a "distressed and agitated state" and started stripping at his ex-wife Rosemary's home on the day she disappeared.
- He also claims the pensioner "couldn't even murder a chicken" because she is terminally ill.
- Gaia's mum Natasha Pope claims her daughter may be "held against her will in a garage or back of a van".
- CCTV images emerge of Gaia Pope taken less than hour before she was last seen.
- She is seen buying an ice cream at 2.55pm when she stopped off for fuel with a family member at St Michael's Garage on Valley Road in Swanage.
Thursday, November 16
- At 10.28am, women's clothing is discovered in a field near Swanage by a member of the public.
- Gaia's father Richard Sutherland breaks down on TV as he vows to bring his daughter home.
- A 49-year-old man from Swanage is arrested on suspicion of murder. It is believed he was known to Gaia.
- Footage emerges of dashcam footage which appears to show Gaia leaning into a mystery car on the outskirts of her hometown, Langton Matravers, just before midnight.
