The body of missing Jayden Parkinson was tonight believed to have been found at a cemetery, hours after police revealed there was ‘evidence of recent and unauthorised disturbance’ at a grave.
Thames Valley Police said the hunt for Jayden had led them to the Great Western Cemetery by All Saints' Church in Didcot, Oxfordshire, after receiving 'significant and highly relevant information'.
The 17-year-old girl disappeared on December 3 after she was last seen leaving the town's railway station at about 4.30pm.
Thames Valley Police have announced that they are to focus their investigation into the disappearance of 17-year-old Jayden Parkinson on a grave in the churchyard at All Saints' Church in Didcot, Oxfordshire
Missing: Jayden Parkinson (left) has not been seen since leaving Didcot station at 4.30pm on December 3. Former boyfriend Ben Blakeley, 22, (right) appeared yesterday at Oxford Crown Court charged with her murder
These pictures show officials working at the graveyard today. The bags are believed to contain soil as evidence
Death: Detectives searching for missing teenager Jayden have found a body in a grave in a Didcot cemetery
A police spokesman said: 'Thames Valley Police can confirm we have found a body in a recently disturbed grave in the cemetery of All Saints Church, Didcot.
'The body is believed to be that of missing teenager Jayden Parkinson. Jayden’s family are being supported by specially trained officers. Our thoughts are with them at this extremely difficult and distressing time.'
Jayden's former boyfriend, 22-year-old Ben Blakeley, of Christchurch Road, Reading, Berkshire, appeared yesterday at Oxford Crown Court charged with her murder and perverting the course of justice by disposing of her body and lying to the police about the last time he saw her alive.
A 17-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, also appeared before Oxford magistrates charged with perverting the course of justice between December 3 and December 10 by assisting in the disposal of Jayden's body and other evidence.
Police said the information they had received had led their search efforts to a specific grave
Investigation: More than 100 uniformed officers and detectives are working on the case, backed up by specialists from the National Crime Agency. Officers say there is 'no indication' the teenager is still alive
This photograph shows forensic workers at the Great Western Cemetery for the investigation
Mr Murray said the 'meticulous' and 'methodical' forensic scientists would need time to complete their work
More than 100 uniformed officers and detectives are working on the case, backed up by specialists from the National Crime Agency.
Police said yesterday there was 'no indication' that Jayden was alive and appealed to people to get in touch if they remembered seeing the teenager 'on her own, or in the company of anybody'.
They also repeated an appeal for any information about a man seen struggling with a suitcase just outside the village of Upton, near Didcot, in south Oxfordshire, at about 2am, on December 9.
The same man was later then seen with the same suitcase in the Lydalls Road area of Didcot - where All Saints' is located - at about 3.30am. Detectives have since recovered several suitcases.
Police still hunting for suitcase in Jayden Parkinson murder case
Scene guard: Detective Chief Superintendent Andy Murray, who is leading the investigation, said police had received 'significant and highly relevant information' which led their search efforts to a specific grave
Investigation leader Mr Murray said there is evidence at the graveyard of 'recent and unauthorised disturbance'
Search: Officers have been searching fields in Upton, Oxfordshire, for the missing teenager
All Saints' Church said in a statement posted on its website: 'We at All Saints' Church are co-operating with the police in their inquiries in every possible way at this time.
'We are praying for Jayden's family and friends at this very distressing time.'
Two teams of forensic officers were carefully searching a children's play area and park at the back of the church this afternoon.
The small park area, which was cordoned off by police, had a footpath linking the back exit of the cemetery to Great Western Drive, Didcot - where Mr Blakeley's grandmother lives and from where suitcases were seized by police earlier this week.
Farmland: Police carried out a detailed search of an area of farmland just outside the village of Upton, near Didcot to trace Jayden Parkinson who hasn't been seen or heard from in more than two weeks
This photograph shows a police officer guarding the entrance to the church's graveyard during the search
The photograph shows police searching the area around the All Saints' Church in Didcot
Police officers are using sniffer dogs around the graveyard in residential areas
Elsewhere, officers are seen here searching through a bin in a park near the All Saints' Church
Six officers dressed in black walked up and down the length of the park with sticks, probing the ground for clues.
Another five officers, also in black and with sticks, were concentrating their efforts around the play area in the hunt for evidence.
Police officers were also seen with sniffer dogs in Great Western Drive today as a cordon remained around the house of Brenda Collier, Mr Blakeley's grandmother.
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