The teenager Gaia Pope, whose body was found 11 days after she went missing from a seaside town, had not suffered any injuries that would suggest murder, detectives have said.

A postmortem has taken place but the cause of 19-year-old Pope’s death may not be known for some time as toxicology and other tests are being carried out.

Specialist police search teams found a woman’s body on Saturday afternoon on a craggy stretch of coast on the Isle of Purbeck in Dorset, not far from where the items of clothing belonging to her were found on Thursday.



An important line that the police are following is the state of Pope’s physical and mental health when she went missing from Swanage on 7 November. Pope disappeared without the drugs she needed to treat her epilepsy and family and friends have said she was feeling stressed about a traumatic event that happened about two years ago. Her family vowed on Sunday to get justice for her.

Det Supt Paul Kessell, of Dorset police’s major crime investigation team, said: “The postmortem examination has not identified any injuries to suggest any other person was involved in her death. The cause of death is undetermined pending toxicology.

“The coroner is involved in the oversight of these examinations but at this time this remains an investigation into an unexplained death.

“We would like to take this further opportunity to pass our thoughts to Gaia’s family. I would like to pass our thanks to the public volunteers and partner organisations who have supported this inquiry throughout and have been material in locating Gaia.

“The area where the body was located is likely to remain cordoned off for some time while forensic examinations and searches are concluded.

“Please can I ask that the public no longer attend to assist with searches and that they remain a safe distance from the location. I reiterate this area is steep and slippery in an exposed area close to sea cliffs. The area is covered in dense undergrowth and gorse and can present a hazard. Only specially trained search and forensic teams are entering the area, assisted by Dorset and Wiltshire fire and rescue service recovery teams.”

The tributes to Pope flooded in on Sunday.



Her sister Maya Pope-Sutherland described her as “my everything”. Writing on Facebook she added: “Can’t find any words right now. I am heartbroken. I thank everyone who was involved in searching for my beautiful twin. Going to make her so proud.”

Her sister Clara said she would continue to speak of her in the present tense and called her the “absolute light of my life”. She added: “So beautiful, so emotionally wise and intelligent and so passionate and artistic and creative and understanding.”

Her cousin, Marienna Pope-Weidemann, said: “My beautiful baby girl, so sunny and kind but tough. 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.”

Pope was remembered at church services across Dorset and beyond while floral tributes were left and candles lit at the foot of a monument on the Swanage seafront.

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

Pope’s body was found in a cliff area thick with gorse close to a beauty spot called Dancing Ledge. Two police cars were posted nearby on Sunday.

Part of the area had previously been searched but it is understood the spot where the body was found is particularly rugged and difficult to access. The area is popular with climbers and there is very deep water just off Dancing Ledge.

Meanwhile, a man whose son, grandson and ex-wife were arrested on suspicion of Pope’s murder said his heart went out to the teenager’s family.

Greg Elsey, whose son Paul, a 49-year-old carpenter, grandson Nathan, 19, and ex-wife Rosemary Dinch were all arrested, criticised the police and said his family planned to sue for wrongful arrest. All three were released under investigation.

He said: “Our heart goes out to Gaia’s family. We have only ever tried to help both Gaia and the police.”

Dinch was one of the last people to see Pope alive and before her arrest told how the teenager had banged on her door on the day she went missing and she had invited her in.

Elsey said: “We will take action for wrongful arrest. This has ruined their lives. Mud sticks, doesn’t it?”

Pope had not been seen since about 4pm on 7 November in Manor Gardens, Swanage. An hour earlier she was seen on CCTV buying an ice cream inside a garage in the town, having been driven there by a relative.