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12th Mar 2021

Human remains found confirmed to be Sarah Everard

Jade Hayden

The remains were discovered earlier this week.

Human remains found in a Kent woodland are those of Sarah Everard, police confirmed today.

Sky News reports that Metropolitan Police confirmed the news this afternoon, two days after the remains were discovered in the woodland.

33-year-old Everard was reported missing on March 3 after she failed to return home from a friend’s house in Clapham, London.

A police officer in his 40s has since been arrested on suspicion of murder. A woman in her 30s is also being held on suspicion of assisting an offender.

Met Police Assistant Commissioner Nick Ephgrave confirmed the news this afternoon, stating that the remains discovered in a Kent woodland on Wednesday belong to missing Everard.

“On Wednesday evening, detectives investigating the disappearance of Sarah Everard discovered a body in a woodland in Kent,” he said. “The body has now been recovered, and a formal identification procedure has been undertaken.

“I can now confirm it is the body of Sarah Everard. Sarah’s family have been updated with this most distressing news, and my thoughts and prayers and that of the entire organisation are with her and with them at this awful time.

“Specialist officers remain in constant contact with Sarah’s family and will continue to support them throughout the investigation and beyond.

Ephgrave added that there are “hundreds of officers” working to determine the circumstances of Everard’s murder, and that the police officer remains in police custody.

“I know the public feel hurt and angry about what has happened, and I share these sentiments personally,” he went on. “I also recognise the wider concern about the safety of women in public spaces in London and elsewhere.

“This organisation remains committed to protecting people in London, and that commitment is undiminished by these events.”

The arrested man, who is currently serving as a police office but was not duty as the time of Sarah’s disappearance, was taken into custody earlier this week.

“Today, Wednesday, 10 March, he has been further arrested on suspicion of murder and a separate allegation of indecent exposure,” read a statement at the time.

“The man is a serving Metropolitan Police officer in the Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection Command. His primary role was uniformed patrol duties of diplomatic premises.

“Officers are searching locations in London and Kent including a property in Deal and an area of woodland near Ashford.”

Sarah’s disappearance sent shockwaves across the London community and beyond. A vigil in her honour has been organised for tomorrow night in Clapham.

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