Gaia Pope's twin sister speaks of heartbreak over sibling's death after body found in hunt for missing teen

Floral tributes for Gaia Pope are left at the King Alfred Monument on the seafront in Swanage
PA
Fiona Simpson19 November 2017
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Gaia Pope’s twin sister has spoken of her heartbreak at the death of the 19-year-old and vowed to "make her so proud".

Maya Pope-Sutherland described her sister as "my everything" and thanked everyone who has joined the search for her sister.

Dorset Police said they were confident they had found Miss Pope, who has not been seen for 11 days, and said the death was being treated as unexplained.

The discovery was made at around 3pm on Saturday by specialist search teams on land south of Swanage - close to where clothing positively identified as belonging to the teenager was found on Thursday.

Police are still searching for the missing 19-year-old girl
PA

Paying tribute to the teenager, Miss Pope-Sutherland wrote on Facebook: "Can't find any words right now. Gaia is my everything and I am heartbroken. I thank everyone who was involved in searching for my beautiful twin. Going to make her so proud."

The twins' cousin, Marienna Pope-Weidemann, also paid tribute, saying: "My beautiful baby girl, so sunny and kind but tough as f***.

Richard Sutherland joins the hunt for his daughter
PA

"We hold you in our hearts forever. Know you are with Nan & Pops now but miss you beyond words. You will have justice. Fly on. #JusticeForGaia"

Last night, elder sister Clara Pope described the teenager as the "absolute light of my life" and said she was "so beautiful, so emotionally wise and intelligent and so passionate and artistic and creative and understanding".

Family friend Sheri Carr, who organised the Find Gaia social media campaign, spoke of her devastation at the loss of Miss Pope.

Gaia Pope's father Richard Sutherland thanks volunteers
PA

"We are absolutely devastated, and unable to put into words our feeling of loss. We thank you for everything you have done," she wrote on Facebook.

"If there is one ray of light in this nightmare, it is the compassion, humanity and community spirit you've shown over the last 10 days."

Floral tributes are mounting at on the Alfred Monument, next to the town’s sea front.

One card read: "Our hopes now replaced with sadness, may you rest in peace Gaia, this town will never forget you xx."

Tributes were laid by the seafront in Swanage
PA

Another added: "For Gaia, we are devastated and want to give your family our love at this time xxx Carole."

The news of the discovery of Miss Pope's body on Saturday night came hours after hundreds of people joined searches around Swanage looking for the teenager, who suffered from severe epilepsy.

Miss Pope's father, Richard Sutherland, was among them and personally thanked members of the public who had gathered at Durlston Country Park.

Hundreds of missing person posters have been distributed across the county since Gaia disappeared.

Mr Sutherland said earlier he feared his daughter's epilepsy may have played a part in her disappearance as doctors warned her that she was at risk of sudden death from the condition.

Detective Superintendent Paul Kessell, of Dorset Police's major crime investigation team, said on Saturday night: "Although the body has yet to be formally identified, we are confident that we have found Gaia.

"Our thoughts remain with all of her family and friends at this very traumatic time. They have requested privacy and that we make no further media releases at this point."

Mr Kessell said the Dorset Coroner had been informed that further forensic examinations will continue.

"This will guide the investigation in respect of the circumstances of the death which at this time remains unexplained," he added.

Detectives have arrested and released under investigation three people, a 71-year-old woman, a 19-year-old man and a 49-year-old man, named locally as Paul Elsey.

Miss Pope had not been seen since about 4pm on November 7 in Manor Gardens, Swanage.

She was captured on CCTV an hour earlier buying an ice cream inside St Michael's Garage in the town, having been driven there by a relative.

She was said to be wearing a red checked shirt with white buttons, grey and white woven leggings and white trainers. The black jacket she had on was recovered from an address in Manor Gardens.

Forensic investigations have concluded at two properties in Manor Gardens, which are believed to be linked to the people arrested.

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