Gaia Pope, who suffers from epilepsy, was last seen in Swanage, Dorset on November 7
A body has been found on land near Swanage in the hunt for missing Gaia Pope, which Dorset Police say they are ‘confident’ is the teenager, according to reports.
Gaia Pope went missing on Tuesday, November 7 from her home town of Swanage.
Paul Elsey, 49 – who detectives had been trying to track down since Tuesday before he was arrested and later released – has today gone into hiding, while a massive community search to find the 19-year-old gets underway.
Paul’s father, Greg Elsey, 69, also said that his son was in Weymouth when Gaia vanished in Swanage, Dorset.
He said: ‘I’m absolutely bewildered that he was arrested, I’ve got no idea why he was taken.
‘I mean, for God’s sake, he was working all day in Weymouth when Gaia went missing, he had nothing to do with it.
‘He lives with his mother Rosemary and takes care of her, he goes back there each night, that’s the only link he’s got with it.
‘Police took him in and he said ‘look, what on Earth am I doing here? I’ve got nothing to do with this.
‘He’s staying with a friend at the moment just chilling out. I saw him last night and he’s alright.
‘I’ve got no way of getting hold of him, they’ve taken his phone, they’ve taken everyone’s phones.
‘Witch hunt’: Greg Elsey, 69 (pictured left and right outside his home this morning), confirmed his son, Paul Elsey, 49, has gone into hiding after he was arrested and released on suspicion of the missing teenager’s murder
Rosemary Dinch, 71, was pictured leaving Gregory Elsey’s property in West Wellow this afternoon
Rosemary Dince, as well as nephew Nathan Elsey, 19 (left), a school friend of Gaia’s were all held by police but released under investigation. Right: Gaia’s father Richard Sutherland thanks members of the public before a community search at Durlston Country Park today
‘It’s ruined Rosemary and Nathan’s life, she was just being nice on the day, all police had to do was say to her they want to ask her a few questions and that would be fine but they arrested her.’
Paul’s family have accused the police of a ‘witch hunt’ after three family members were arrested in a matter of days and then all released.
Greg added: ‘We’re getting really sick of all this attention now and we’d like you to leave us alone, it’s not fair. It’s getting too much now.
Gaia’s emotional father, Richard Sutherland, publicly thanks and paid tribute to more than 1,000 volunteers who turned out
A massive community search gets underway today in a desperate bid to find the missing teenager
More than a thousand members of the public turned out in Swanage today to help with the search for Gaia
Gaia’s aunt, Hannah Sutherland, led one of the search teams today as hundreds of volunteers trudged through the countryside to find the missing teenager
‘Paul is fine but all this attention isn’t fair, please just give him some space.
‘What I will say is the way the police have handled this is terrible, it’s shocking.’
He also refused to confirm if Nathan and his grandmother Rosemary – who were both initially arrested – were still in the house but said the keys to their home in Swanage. Dorset, have been handed back.
It was believed Gaia had been staying with the pair in Manor Gardens, Swanage when she disappeared.
It comes as a massive community search gets underway today in a desperate bid to find the missing teenager.
Gaia’s emotional father, Richard Sutherland, publicly thanks and paid tribute to more than 1,000 volunteers who turned out to join in the huge line-search of the Dorset countryside today.
Hundreds of people set off from three separate locations around Swanage, fanning out in every direction around the Victorian seaside resort
Pictured: Gaia’s aunt, Hannah Sutherland. Volunteers searched across the rolling hills and downland of the picturesque Isle of Purbeck and covered cliff paths, woodland and heathland.
The volunteers trudged across the rolling hills and downland of the picturesque Isle of Purbeck and covered cliff paths, woodland and heathland
Also present at the search was Richard Drax, the Conservative MP for South Dorset, who said: ‘Although there have been arrests made we cannot jump to conclusions’
Hundreds of people set off from three separate locations around Swanage, fanning out in every direction around the Victorian seaside resort.
The volunteers trudged across the rolling hills and downland of the picturesque Isle of Purbeck and covered cliff paths, woodland and heathland.
In a direct appeal top her daughter, Gaia’s mother, Natasha Pope, said: ‘We know you are having difficulty getting home and making contact.
‘The whole world is looking for you. It’s just a matter of time before we find you sweetheart.
‘We love you, you be strong and do what you can sweetie.
No stone is being left unturned in the search for 19-year-old Gaia, as the hundreds of volunteers give up their time to help find her
Volunteers, many wearing high-vis jackets, crawled through shrubland, battled boggy ground and crawled through holes trying to find anything that may help locate Gaia
‘Take heart, we are coming for you.’
The main search began at just after midday at Durlston Country Park on the Swanage coastline.
There were around 300 volunteers present when they set off, among them Mr Sutherland and Gaia’s aunt Hannah Sutherland.
One group, lead by Mrs Sutherland, thought they had found something potentially significant after just a few minutes only for it to turn out to be a plastic bag.
Volunteers, many wearing high-vis jackets, crawled through shrubland, battled boggy ground and crawled through holes trying to find anything that may help locate Gaia.
Before the search, Gaia’s father thanked the community for rallying around the family.
Mr Sutherland said: ‘To everyone who’s given up their time, I just want to say a massive thank you.
‘It’s very heartwarming and the support of everyone gives us so much hope.’
Earlier Gaia’s cousin, Marienna Pope-Wiedemann said: ‘A police officer told me he has never been such a big operation for a missing person in this part of the south west ever’
Every part of the area is being searched in the hunt for the missing teenager. Volunteers are pictured searching the cliffs near Durlston Head
The appeal for people to search reached far and wide, with one volunteer travelling nearly 300 miles to help.
Although not everyone was able to physically search, people were today desperate to lend a hand in anyway they can.
Among those to help was Ronnie Taylor, 57, a local taxi driver from Swanage.
Having worked until 3am last night, he today spent his morning off offering volunteers lifts to the search free of charge.
He said Gaia’s disappearance had touched the whole community and said he just wanted to help.
Mr Taylor said: ‘If I get people up there quicker they can get looking quicker it’s as simple as that.
‘I worked until about three o’clock last night and was up most of the night thinking about it so this morning I decided to come down and see if I could help.
Two volunteers stand by the coast as they help out in the search and rescue effort to bring Gaia home
Gaia’s family confirmed that clothing found only a short distance from rugged clifftops was probably hers and the detailed police and coastguard search of that area was continuing.
‘I rang my boss and he agreed so the firm are paying for the diesel and we all want to see Gaia return home safely.’
Also present at the search was Richard Drax, the Conservative MP for South Dorset.
Mr Drax said: ‘Although there have been arrests made we cannot jump to conclusions.
‘As long as no body has been found, then there remains hope of finding Gaia alive.
‘The family are all feeling a little numb at the moment but there resilience to keep looking is amazing.’
Earlier Gaia’s cousin, Marienna Pope-Wiedemann said: ‘A police officer told me he has never been such a big operation for a missing person in this part of the south west ever.
‘Gaia and her sisters and me grew up in this area and at times like this you realise how lucky you are to have such a community.
‘So many people have told me if it were my little girl I would like to think the whole community would be looking for her and that’s what’s been happening.’
Her family confirmed that clothing found only a short distance from rugged clifftops was probably hers and the detailed police and coastguard search of that area was continuing.
Police perform a search in the open space above the coast near to Durlston Country Park in Swanage, Dorset near where detectives investigating the disappearance of Gaia Pope
‘It’s time to find Gaia’: The FIND GAIA Facebook page said they are expecting a huge turnout as the hunt for the missing teenager enters its eleventh day
‘Holding out for a miracle’: Natasha Pope, 53, is calling on volunteers to help in the search to find her daughter
Hundreds of volunteers have descended on the search site to join in the hunt for the missing 19-year-old
Volunteers were asked to give up their time and help find Gaia after a plea was posted on the FIND GAIA Facebook page
A police officer issues instructions to hundreds of volunteers today at Durlston Country park – which is one of three meeting points for the search
The volunteers are searching for any clues which might help find missing Gaia, as the search enters its eleventh day
Gaia’s mother said she was ‘holding on to hope’ that the teenager will turn up safe and well
Members of the public are pictured helping in the search for the missing teenager, who suffers with epilepsy
As the hunt for the 19-year-old enters its eleventh day, her mother Natasha Pope last said she was still ‘holding on to hope’ that her daughter will be found alive and well.
Detectives had been trying to track him down since he went missing on Tuesday afternoon, a week after Gaia disappeared.
They seized his VW Golf and obtained a warrant to search his father’s £460,000 bungalow in Romsey, Hampshire, on Tuesday.
Mr Elsey, 49, was the third person to be arrested and released by Dorset Police over Gaia’s disappearance after she vanished from Swanage, Dorset, on November 7.
His mother, 71-year-old Rosemary Dince, as well as nephew Nathan Elsey, 19, a school friend of Gaia’s were all held by police but released under investigation.
Mrs Dinch, who shares a first-floor flat with her son Paul, was the last person to see the missing teenager alive.
Police and other search and rescue agencies perform a search in the open space above the coast near to Swanage in Dorset as they continue to investigate the disappearance of Gaia Pope yesterday
A massive community search was organised for today at noon, with hundreds of volunteers aiding in the hunt for the missing teeanger
Mr Elsey’s father Greg, 69, said the family have been handed back the keys to their flats in Swanage, which have been examined by forensic officers over the last four days.
He added: ‘My family has totally been the victim of a witch hunt. They should start looking elsewhere.
‘I think of the public money which has been wasted, which could have been spent searching for Gaia and finding those clothes a long time ago.
‘I will tell Paul it is nice to have him home. I don’t think there is any problem now with them going home. We will soldier on.
Speaking out: Greg Elsey, pictured outside his home in West Wellow, near Romsey, Hampshire, tonight, said he feels ‘dreadfully sorry’ for Gaia’s family
Rosemary Dinch was seen leaving her ex-husband Gergory’s home, with her oxygen tank yesterday morning
‘It is terrible for Gaia’s family. I feel dreadfully sorry for them, I really do. I know if I was in their position I would be devastated.
‘At least we knew [our family members] were coming home.’
A female relative of Emilie Brylak, a close friend of Nathan’s said: ‘I have heard about the arrests, I just don’t believe it.
‘He is a very quiet young man. I have known Nathan for quite a while and he is good friends with my granddaughter.
‘They go to the same college. He comes here and I take her to his house.
‘He is a very gentle young man who doesn’t go out. I just don’t believe it.
A motorist claims this grainy footage, recorded just outside Gaia’s home village of Langton Matravers in Dorset at 11:35pm on November 7, could show the teenager being dropped off
Gaia’s father Richard Sutherland fought back tears as he thanked members of the pubic and the police for their help in finding his daughter
Meanwhile, Gaia’s family have criticised police, saying they were being kept in the dark by Dorset Police.
They said they were not told of arrests on suspicion of murder of three members of one family and had only heard of them through the media.
A family friend told The Times: ‘We don’t understand what the police are doing. They say someone has been arrested on suspicion of murder then in the next sentence that they are hopeful Gaia will be found alive and well.
‘We also know from what people have told us that they have been knocking on doors asking people if they have seen a couple, a man with heavy tattoos and a woman with lots of jewellery, acting suspiciously.’
Today, hundreds of volunteers from the Find Gaia Facebook page assembled at midday to conduct line searches of the rugged landscape around the Isle of Purbeck peninsula, an area popular with weekend daytrippers.
Gaia’s mother Natasha, 53, said: ‘I believe in this community and I believe miracles can happen.
‘I am holding on to hope, along with Gaia’s sisters and the whole family who are my strength.
‘Please hold on with us. My eternal thanks to everyone who is out there searching for my little girl.
Ongoing search: Forensic teams comb for evidence yesterday after finding clothes believed to belong to Gaia on Thursday
Police perform a fingertip search in the open space above the coast near to Swanage, where Gaia was last seen alive
Police yesterday cordoned off a section of the South West coast path around 200 yards inland from the cliff edge, between the beauty spots of Anvil Point and Dancing Ledge
Rosemary, Gregory and Nathan Elsey were pictured leaving Gregory Elsey’s home this morning. Gregory and Rosemary’s son Paul remains in police custody on suspicion of murder
Last pictures: Gaia Pope was seen buying an ice cream at a petrol station in Valley Road between Langton Matravers and Swanage at around 2.55pm on Tuesday, November 7. Shortly after, she disappeared
A map shows the timeline of events before Gaia Pope disappeared. She was spotted at a petrol station near Swanage at 2.55pm buying an ice cream, having been driven there by a member of her family. She was then seen on CCTV sprinting along Morrison Road in Swanage, last spotted banging on Rosemary Dinch’s door in Manor Gardens
‘Please come out over the weekend and do what you can. Every one of you makes a difference.’
The family remain hopeful Gaia is alive.
Yesterday her father Richard Sutherland, 57, wept as he told Good Morning Britain that her epilepsy could have played a ‘big part’ in her disappearance.
He said: ‘One thing we’ve really tried to do is not to go off down every speculation because that can lead you to 100 different ideas with a 100 different variations on everything.
‘But, it’s entirely possible that her epilepsy has played a big part in this and that’s meant it’s been more difficult to find her.’
Aspiring 19-year-old actor Nathan Elsey, who appeared in Dunkirk, seen leaving Gregory Elsey’s house on Friday morning
Investigation: Swanage was where Gaia was last seen with clothes found 200yards from 70ft cliffs popular with hikers
Gaia is from Langton Matravers but had been staying with her aunt in Swanage – a few streets away from the home of Rosemary Dinch and Nathan and Paul Elsey – because she was concerned about the release of a man convicted of assault two years ago
The flats belonging to Paul Elsey, his mother and Nathan are still being combed over by forensic officers
A motorist claims they captured dashcam footage of Gaia getting out of a car which stopped in this street, stopped yards from Dancing Ledge, the coastal path where a walker yesterday found a pile of clothes
The motorist said this car stopped near Dancing Ledge – the coastal path where a member of the public yesterday found a pile of clothes thought to belong to Gaia
Coastguards picked their way through brambles and bushes on a clifftop as the hunt for missing teenager Gaia Pope entered its tenth day
Detectives carried out forensic analysis on clothing, believed to have been Gaia’s leggings, in a field near the cliffs around Swanage
Mrs Dinch, 71, was arrested hours after she was interviewed on local TV where she described how Gaia ‘pounded’ on her door, saying ‘help me, help me’
Defiant: Paul’s father Greg Elsey told MailOnline his son was innocent and said he believed police were unfairly targeting his family. Above, Nathan Elsey, 19, pictured left with grandfather Greg, right on Thursday
Pictured: Grey Elsey’s home in Romsey, Hampshire, where Rosemary Dinch and their grandson Nathan have been staying as their home in Swanage is under investigation
Police yesterday cordoned off a section of the South West coast path around 200 yards inland from the cliff edge, between the beauty spots of Anvil Point and Dancing Ledge
Gaia’s cousin Marienna Pope-Weidemann, 26, also said that Gaia ‘rarely gets through a day without a seizure,’ adding: ‘There’s been times when she’s not recognised us for a short time afterwards, not really understood where she is.
‘That’s a big part of what’s made this case so complicated.’
On Thursday, police discovered items of women’s clothing similar to those worn by Gaia strewn in a field some 200 yards from a 70ft clifftop.
Last night police said Gaia’s family confirmed they matched clothes worn by Gaia. They were discovered some two miles south of her family home in Langton Matravers.
There were fears the clothes may have been dumped there at some point over the last few days.
The area was searched multiple times by police, coastguards and volunteers in the days after Gaia disappeared but on each occasion nothing was found.
Police and coastguards first searched the clifftop between Anvil Point and Dancing Ledge near Swanage, Dorset, the day after Gaia went missing.
And according to a spreadsheet of search locations on the Find Gaia Facebook page, the area of Priest’s Way – next to the field where the clothing was found – was scoured by volunteers on November 9.
Earlier this week, Gaia’s aunt Talia Pope, 59, told MailOnline there was still ‘no evidence’ to prove she is dead and police have not found a body.
She said: ‘We are just searching until we find her. The search is continuing for my niece. It’s ongoing at the moment. It’s inconclusive.
‘But we are just searching until we find her. We’ve got a long way to go yet’.
Two days before her disappearance Gaia posted a message on Instagram that said she was worried about being ‘shut up and put in a cell’ with the hashtag #sexualassault and one follower urged her to ‘run somewhere safe’.
On November 11 more members of the public went back to look at a large area near to the Durlston Coast Path, when again nothing was found.
A family friend described the discovery of the clothes, which included a white trainer, as ‘very odd’ and said it raised questions of when they were left there.
It is around an hour’s walk from where Gaia, who suffers from epilepsy, was last seen in Swanage, Dorset, and two miles south of her family home in the village of Langton Matravers.
Gaia was wearing grey and white woven leggings, white trainers and a red checked shirt with white buttons when she vanished.
Gaia’s cousin Marienna told the BBC: ‘It’s been a profoundly shocking 24 hours. The discovery of these clothes was incredibly distressing for the whole family.
‘We don’t know what they mean as of yet. We are just desperate for answers.’
Detective Superintendent Paul Kessell said: ‘The clothing located south of Priests Way appear to be Gaia’s and her family have confirmed they match what she was believed to have been wearing the day she went missing.
He added: ‘I would like to renew our appeal to anyone who may have seen Gaia in the area of Manor Gardens and south of Priests Way since 3.30pm on Tuesday 7 November.
‘Finally, and most importantly, our thoughts remain with Gaia’s family at this extremely distressing and difficult time. Specially-trained officers continue to support and update them and their wellbeing is central to our actions.’
Gaia (left with Russell Brand and right on social media) is epileptic and also badly affected by a traumatic incident two years ago, her family has said
The mother of missing teenager Gaia Pope (pictured right), Natasha (left), launched a Facebook appeal desperately urging people to ‘check their garages and vans because she could be held prisoner there’
Family distraught: Gaia’s loved ones say their world has been turned upside down following her disappearance. Pictured, Gaia with her mother Natasha