Family of Leah Croucher vow to 'never stop seeking answers'
13 October 2022, 14:08 | Updated: 14 October 2022, 03:26
The family of Leah Croucher have vowed to "never stop seeking answers".
The promise was made in a handwritten message signed "Nan and Grandad" that was left amid floral tributes near a house in Loxbeare Drive, Furzton, Milton Keynes, where police have found human remains.
The message, tied to a bunch of yellow roses, read: "Our darling, we will never stop seeking answers. Will love you and miss you always."
Her parents also arrived at the house where police found a body just before 8pm.
The police tape was lifted and they were driven behind the cordon surrounding the property.
They reappeared some minutes later and laid flowers at a nearby memorial, made up of bouquets, teddy bears and candles left by members of the public.
A message left on flowers laid them said they would 'cherish her memories forever'.
It said: "Our darkest fears have come true, we only need to be apart a little longer.
"We have so missed you for so long already.
"The future looks so bleak now we know we will never see your smile or hear your laughter again. We will cherish your memories forever.
"We love you. Mum and Dad xx xx"
It comes as it was revealed that police searching for missing teenager Leah Croucher admitted knocking on the door of the house her remains are feared to be located in – but instead of going back or investigating it further, simply put a leaflet through the door.
The suburban property was previously home to a paedophile who was jailed for vicious attacks on girls but it is understood he was locked up at the time the 19-year-old vanished.
A comment from Thames Valley Police said: “Monday was the first time we were alerted to this property by a member of the public in connection with this investigation.
"As such, we can confirm that the house has never been entered as part of the original investigation.
"However, as an address in Furzton, the address was visited as part our house to house enquiries as part of the investigation, during which we visited more than 4,000 addresses.
"There was no response at the property and as such leaflets would have been dropped through the letterbox."
The house is only yards away from the park she was last seen in as she walked to work on February 15, 2019.
The last confirmed sighting was at 8.16am on CCTV in Buzzacott Lane, Furzton and the last activity on her phone was just after 8.30am that day.
She was wearing a black coat, skinny jeans, all black hi-top Converse trainers. A grey hoodie with the Stewartby Tawkwondo logo and carrying a small black rucksack.
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The major breakthrough in the investigation came this week, when on Monday, workmen inside the house alerted police to their suspicions.
After investigating, officers discovered some of Leah’s personal belongings including the black rucksack.
Yesterday afternoon it was confirmed that forensics had found human remains.
In a fresh update this afternoon, TVP said a formal identification of the body could take 'several weeks'.
Detective Chief Superintendent Ian Hunter, Thames Valley Police’s head of crime, said: “Leah’s family and friends remain uppermost in our thoughts at this extremely difficult time.
“Naturally, there is a thirst for information, and I can reassure both the media and the community, that when we are able to, we will provide updates publicly.
“Our Major Crime Unit have launched a murder investigation as a result of our findings this week, and as such, I would again like to appeal to anybody who may have any information around the disappearance of Leah to please get in contact with us.
“We are absolutely committed to finding out what has happened to Leah. As a community, who have been so supportive since Leah’s disappearance, I know you want to help as well, and I thank the many people who have got in touch during the course of our investigations.”
For years, Thames Valley Police visited watched more than 1,200 hours of CCTV in desperate attempts to find any clues that could lead to her whereabouts.
A faded missing person poster with a £5,000 reward, is still tacked to a tree just yards away from the suburban property.
Complete with photographs of Leah it said: “She followed her normal routine including leaving home at her normal time and walking the route that she took to work in Knowhill, approximately two miles away.
"Leah did not call in sick to work. She took no money or clothes. She told no-one she was planning on running away from home or where she was going."
Leah Croucher’s family were struck by further tragedy when her brother Haydon Croucher, died aged 24, just nine months after she disappeared in 2019.
