UPDATED: Body found in search for missing 16-year-old girl

UPDATE: We're very sad to report that police searching for missing 16-year-old Leah from York have sadly found a body.

UPDATE 28 September 2023

We're very sad to report that North Yorkshire Police searching for missing 16-year-old Leah from York have sadly found a body.

Officers carrying out searches of the River Ouse in York recovered a body from the river in the Terry Avenue area at around 1pm on Thursday 28 September 2023. 

Although formal identification has yet to be carried out, Leah’s next of kin have been informed.

Pending the results of a post mortem, a report will be prepared for the Coroner to inform a future inquest.

Extensive enquiries have been carried out to find Leah and sadly those enquiries have led officers to concentrate their searches on the River Ouse in York.

A confirmed sighting of Leah on CCTV shows her at the edge of the river near Lendal Bridge on 20 September, and on 25 September underwater search officers recovered a mobile phone used by Leah from the River Ouse.

Underwater searches began on Monday 25 September and are continuing today with the help of specialist underwater search officers from the Regional Marine and Underwater Search Team.

Leah’s family have been updated with developments in the search.

Original appeal 21 September 2023

Concerns are growing for a missing 16-year-old girl from York.

Leah was last seen by her friends on Wednesday (20 September 2023) morning.

She has not been seen at her home address for 48 hours and was reported missing on Wednesday afternoon.

Extensive enquiries are ongoing in and around York. This includes working with British Transport Police and bus operators in case Leah has travelled away from the city.

We are urgently appealing for any possible sightings of Leah or any information that could help us to locate her and confirm she is safe.

Leah is described as white with shoulder-length black dyed hair (it is dyed red in the photograph above), 5ft 2in tall, and she was last seen wearing a dark blue hooded top with a white logo, black combat-style trousers that are flared at the bottom, and black and white trainers.

If you can help, please call North Yorkshire Police immediately on 999 quoting reference number 12230178426.