Katie Kenyon: Man arrested for murder of missing woman

A MAN who has been arrested on suspicion of the kidnap of missing mum Katie Kenyon has been further arrested on suspicion of murder.

While Katie has not yet been found, and the search for her is continuing, detectives are now working on the basis she is no longer alive.

The enquiry has now shifted from a missing from home to a homicide investigation.

The 50-year-old man under arrest for Katie’s murder remains in custody where he is being questioned about her disappearance.

Timeline of events as search for missing Katie Kenyon continues

Detectives are this evening making a further application to Burnley Magistrates' Court to continue the man's detention until 9pm on Wednesday, April 27.

Katie’s family have been informed of the latest developments and continue to be supported by specially trained officers.

Officers believe at about 9.30am on Friday, April 22, a woman matching Katie’s description left an address in Todmorden Road, Burnley, with a man and travelled in the silver Ford Transit van with the registration MT57 FLC to the Bolton-by-Bowland area. She has not been seen since.

Missing woman's family 'breaking' as search continues

Det Supt Gary Brooks, Lancashire Police’s Head of Major Crime, said: “While I hold some slim hope that Katie may still be found alive I’m sad to say that Katie has now been missing for over four days.

"Despite extensive police enquiries and media appeals we have not found Katie nor have there been any sightings of Katie.

“We have spoken to Katie’s family today and they are understandably extremely upset by this latest development and I have officers continuing to offer them support. My thoughts are with them at this time.

“I am really grateful for all the help that members of the public have given us so far and I would continue to appeal to anyone who has any information, however small, to come forward and speak to us. While we do have someone under arrest our enquiries are very much ongoing.

“We are continuing to search a number of different locations in connection with this investigation, including at Gisburn Forest and I am grateful to colleagues from Merseyside and North Wales, and other emergency service partners who are offering assistance in the these complex and wide-scale searches.

“I am aware that many members of the public have offered to help us in those searches and while I am grateful for that I would dissuade anyone from doing so. The area we are searching is very large and remote with no phone signal.

"The police teams are trained professionals who are used to doing this sort of work and I would hate for someone to get lost or come to harm while trying to help. Please leave it to us.”

The search teams now number more than 60 trained search officers from Lancashire, North Wales, Merseyside and Greater Manchester, with specialist dogs, a plane and other specialist search equipment being used.

The Salvation Army has also provided a feeding station for officers.

Detectives continue to appeal to anyone who was in Bolton-by-Bowland, Gisburn Forest or that area and may have seen Katie, either in company or on her own, or who saw or has dashcam footage of a van matching the description to come forward and contact them by calling 101.

Information can also be passed to independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously by calling 0800 555111.