MORE than sixty officers and rescuers will today resume their search for missing Katie Kenyon after a man was arrested on suspicion of her murder.
On Tuesday evening (April 26) leading detectives in the case made the heart-breaking announcement they no longer have reason to believe the mum-of-two is alive.
Despite not yet finding a body, a 50-year-old man who had been arrested on suspicion of kidnapping Katie has now been rearrested on suspicion of murder.
Today, Wednesday, police officers, fire and rescue teams and mountain rescue volunteers will get back to combing areas close to Bolton-by-Bowland in the Ribble Valley, near to where Katie is thought to have travelled to with the man in a silver Ford Transit van.
LATEST UPDATE: Man charged with murdering missing mum-of-two Katie Kenyon
Missing mum-of-two Katie Kenyon
Search teams including more than 60 search officers from Lancashire, North Wales, Merseyside and GMP, with specialist dogs, a plane and other equipment are being used.
The Salvation Army have also provided a feeding station up in the remote area where the teams are working.
Yesterday, 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 on-going.
“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.”
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.
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