Detectives have launched a murder inquiry after discovering personal possessions belonging to Leah Croucher who was 19 when she was reported missing in February 2019. A huge police search was under way today at a house on a leafy estate close to where a teenager went missing three years ago.
Thames Valley Police urged the public to “avoid any speculation” about the search in Furzton, Milton Keynes, Bucks, but did not release any further details.
The area is close to where Leah Croucher, 19, disappeared in 2019. Her last confirmed sighting was at 8.16am on CCTV in Buzzacott Lane, Furzton, on the morning of 15 February, and the last activity on her phone was just after 8.30am that day.
Police have taped off the property, which is at the end of Loxbeare Drive, closest to Furzton Lake and short distance from Buzzacott Lane. Vans and police cars have been outside last night and all day today, while two police officers are guarding the front of the house.
Eyewitness reports claim officers appear to have been searching the garden of the house. A police spokesman for the force said: “Thames Valley Police is on the scene of an incident at Loxbeare Drive in Furzton, Milton Keynes.
"We were called to Loxbeare Drive last night (10/10) and we are currently investigating some items that have been located at a property. There is no wider risk to the local community and we are in the very early stages of this investigation.
"As such, we would urge the public and media to avoid any speculation, and we will update again as soon as we are able to."
Earlier this year, detectives launched an appeal to find a woman who was photographed walking with a dog beside Furzton Lake in connection withdisa Leah's disappearance. And they later confirmed that a woman had come forward and spoken to officers.
However, they said another figure in the photograph, dressed in black, has still not been identified. Following Leah’s death, a coroner found that her brother, Hayden Croucher, 24, killed himself after he told a therapist that he was fixated on hanging and struggling to cope.
But her family never gave up hope of finding the teen and put out a £20,000 reward for information concerning missing Leah. Writing on social media earlier this morning, the social media support group ‘FINDING LEAH CROUCHER’ said police had told them not to comment on the recent search.
They wrote: “At this time, at the request of the police, we won’t be accepting any comment on the matter. We will update you as the police release more information.”
