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Gaia Pope: Police and family renew appeal for missing teenage girl described as 'home bird'

'Even when she goes out with her friends, she always wants to come back to her bed'

Rachel Roberts
Friday 10 November 2017 00:55 GMT
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Gaia Pope, a 19-year-old from Swanage in Dorset, was reported missing from her home in November 2017 and her body was discovered almost two weeks later in undergrowth
Gaia Pope, a 19-year-old from Swanage in Dorset, was reported missing from her home in November 2017 and her body was discovered almost two weeks later in undergrowth

Police have renewed their appeal to trace a missing teenage girl from Dorset described as a “home bird” whose disappearance is said to be completely out of character.

Gaia Pope, 19, suffers from severe epilepsy and went missing without her medication on the afternoon of Tuesday 7 November from an address in Swanage where she was staying.

Her tearful sister Clara Pope-Sutherland told reporters: “I just want her home. The thing is she’s a home bird and she would never have done this before.

“Even when she goes out with her friends, she always wants to come back to her bed, and come back to where mum is and come back to where her safety is, and it doesn’t … it’s completely out of character.”

A coastguard-led search of the local area was stood down on Wednesday evening but police efforts to find the teenager, from Langton Matravers, continue.

She is described as being 5ft 7 inches tall, of medium build and with long, mousey blonde hair.

Her family said they do not believe she had her epilepsy medication on her and fear she may have fallen unconscious after suffering a seizure.

A Facebook appeal set up by her family urging people to help find Ms Pope has been shared thousands of times.

Dorset Police said the last reported sighting of Ms Pope was at an address in Manor Gardens on Morrison Road at around 4pm.

She was said to have wearing a red checked shirt with white buttons, grey and white woven leggings and white trainers.

Inspector Andy Edwards, of Dorset Police, said: “We are doing everything possible to try and locate Gaia and our extensive search efforts are continuing.

“Our thoughts are with her family at what must be a very difficult time and we are doing everything we possibly can to support them.

“I would urge any members of the public who have information as to her where Gaia could be, or who see a woman matching the description given, to contact police immediately.

“We would also urge anyone who may have dashcam footage from their vehicles covering major routes in Swanage over the last 48 hours to review it to see if there are any sightings of someone matching Gaia’s description.

“Finally, I would appeal to Gaia directly, if she sees this appeal, to contact us or your family as we all want to ensure that you are safe and well.”

Anyone with information or knowledge as to Gaia's whereabouts is asked to contact the police at www.dorset.police.uk, via email 101@dorset.pnn.police.uk or by calling 101.

Alternatively contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or via www.crimestoppers-uk.org.

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