Police believe body found in River Thames is missing London student
Samaria Ayanle was reported missing on Friday. A body was found on the shore in Putney almost three weeks ago.
Met detectives believe that a body recovered from the water in February is that of missing Samaria Ayanle.
While formal identification is still to take place, Samaria's family and friends have been informed of this development.
The 19-year-old was first reported missing to police by university staff on Friday, 8 March.
An investigation was launched and CCTV enquiries found that Samaria was last seen at her university accommodation near to Marble Arch in the early hours of Thursday, 22 February.
On Thursday, 22 February at 08:19 hours, police were called by a member of the public to a body on the north foreshore near Putney Pier.
The body was recovered. No personal property was found.
Officers conducted finger print tests but these were negative.
Police checked recent missing persons reports but the body did not match the description of any other persons reported missing around that time.
The body was sent to the Coroner to conduct further checks. Meanwhile details were uploaded onto the UK Missing Persons database in the hopes the person might be identified.
After Samaria was reported missing officers linked their enquiries to the 22 February discovery on Wednesday, 13 March. They have viewed body-worn video from then and believe the person found is Samaria.
Samaria's death is being treated as unexplained, pending further enquiries.
Anyone with information that could help police should call 101 ref 01/60807/24. You can also share via @MetCC on X.