Met Police confirm body found in woodland is missing Sarah Everard

Speaking outside Scotland Yard, Assistant Commissioner Nick Ephgrave of the Metropolitan Police said the body found in woodland in Kent was that of the former Durham University student.

A serving Metropolitan Police officer in his 40s remains in custody on suspicion of kidnapping and murdering the marketing executive and detectives have been granted more time to question him.

Marketing executive Sarah vanished while walking home from a friend’s flat in south London on Wednesday, March 3.

The Assistant Commissioner said: “As you know, on Wednesday evening detectives investigating the disappearance of Sarah Everard discovered a body secreted in woodland in Kent.

“The body has now been recovered and formal identification procedure has now been undertaken.

“I can now confirm that it is the body of Sarah Everard.”

He also said the “thoughts and prayers, and those of the entire organisation” remain with her family “at this awful time”.

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

“That investigation continues at a pace and we have hundreds of officers working round the clock to establish the full circumstances of Sarah’s disappearance, and her murder.”

Durham University tweeted to say it was “devastated by the news” adding: "Sarah was a popular and lively member of our community and retained a large Durham University friendship group.

"Our thoughts remain with her family and friends at this extremely difficult time.”

Downing Street has said Prime Minister Boris Johnson “completely understands the strength of feeling” around Sarah’s disappearance but urged people to abide by the coronavirus restrictions when asked about a proposed vigil.

The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said “nobody could fail to be moved by the experiences shared by many women since Sarah’s disappearance.”

They added: “We are still in a pandemic, we would ask people to follow the rules and social distancing rules but we do understand the strength of feeling on this issue.”

Pressed again for his position on the protest, the spokesman said: “He does completely understand the strength of feeling on this and we would ask that people continue to follow the rules and social distancing rules.”

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