Merseyside officers help with search for missing Lancashire Mum
A murder investigation has now been launched after Katie Kenyon went missing 5 days ago
Search teams from across the North West will be back out in Lancashire today (27th April) to continue the search for missing Katie Kenyon.
Detectives say they're now working on the basis that the 33-year-old is dead, although her family are asking people to stop sending their condolences and say they're not giving up hope she'll be found alive.
In a post on social media, her sister said it's heartbreaking for them all.
More than 60 trained search officers from Lancashire, North Wales, Merseyside and GMP are back out in the Bolton by Bowland area - with a large presence combing Gisburn Forest for any evidence of what might have happened to Katie.
Specialist dogs, a plan and other specialist equipment is being used in the search and locals wanting to help are being urged to stay away and leave it to the police.
Yesterday, a man was further arrested on suspicion of murder following his initial arrest earlier this week on suspicion of kidnap.
Police have until 9pm tonight to question him after making an application to Burnley Magistrates Court.
Katie was last seen in Burnley on Friday morning.
A woman matching her description was seen leaving an address on Todmorden Road with a man in a silver Ford Transit to the Bolton by Bowland area and hasn't been seen since.
Police are continuing to appeal to anyone who was in Bolton by Bowland, Gisburn Forest or that area and may have seen Katie, either in company or on her own, or who saw or has dashcam footage of a van matching the description to come forward and contact them.
Katie is described as white, 33, five ft nine ins, with shoulder length strawberry blond/ginger highlighted hair. She was last seen wearing a blue shirt/jacket and white vest top, black leggings and flip flops.
In a statement, Detective Superintendent Gary Brooks, Lancashire Police's Head of Major Crime, said he holds some slim hope that Katie may still be found alive.
He said: "I’m sad to say that Katie has now been missing for over four days. Despite extensive police enquiries and media appeals we have not found Katie nor have there been any sightings of Katie.
“We have spoken to Katie’s family today and they are understandably extremely upset by this latest development and I have officers continuing to offer them support. My thoughts are with them at this time.
“I am really grateful for all the help that members of the public have given us so far and I would continue to appeal to anyone who has any information, however small, to come forward and speak to us. While we do have someone under arrest our enquiries are very much on-going.
“We are continuing to search a number of different locations in connection with this investigation, including at Gisburn Forest and I am grateful to colleagues from Merseyside and North Wales, and other emergency service partners who are offering assistance in the these complex and wide-scale searches.
“I am aware that many members of the public have offered to help us in those searches and while I am grateful for that I would dissuade anyone from doing so. The area we are searching is very large and remote with no phone signal. The police teams are trained professionals who are used to doing this sort of work and I would hate for someone to get lost or come to harm while trying to help. Please leave it to us.”
Anyone with information should call police on 101 quoting log 800 of April 24th or you can contact us through the Major Incident Public Portal at https://mipp.police.uk/operation/0401020119P01-PO1
Alternatively contact independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.