Sarah Everard: Timeline of 33-year-old’s disappearance

12 March 2021, 14:50 | Updated: 13 March 2021, 11:14

Human remains that were found in Kent woodland have been confirmed as those of Sarah Everard, who went missing from South London last Wednesday.

Speaking to reporters outside Scotland Yard, Assistant Commissioner Nick Ephgrave said the body found in woodland was that of Sarah Everard.

A serving Met Police Officer was arrested on Tuesday evening on suspicion of kidnap in connection with Ms Everard’s disappearance.

On Wednesday, it was announced he has been further arrested on suspicion of murder and a separate allegation of indecent exposure.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he was "shocked and deeply saddened", adding: "We must work fast to find all the answers to this horrifying crime."

Here are all the key events in the disappearance of Sarah Everard:

March 3

33-year-old Sarah Everard goes missing after leaving a friend's flat in Leathwaite Road, Clapham, at around 9pm.

Ms Everard is believed to have walked on to the A205 South Circular, before heading through Clapham Common towards her house in Brixton. The journey should have taken around 50 minutes.

Police said she spoke to her boyfriend, Josh Lowth, on the phone for around 15 minutes, and that the call ended at 9.28pm.

March 4

Ms Everard’s friends notify the police after they have not heard from the marketing executive and cannot reach her.

March 5

Lambeth Police say they are “increasingly concerned” and issue images of Ms Everard, asking people to spread the word and contact 999 with any information.

Friends and family retrace her steps home, distributing flyers and sharing posters with the local community.

In a plea for her return, they say: “Sarah, we are here for whenever you are ready.

"We can listen, talk you through what help you need, pass a message for you and help you to be safe."

March 6

Police investigating the disappearance release CCTV images of Ms Everard from the night she was last seen.

Officers ask anyone in the area to check doorbell and dashcam footage for the 33-year-old and say they are “working round the clock to try and find her”.

Volunteers from London Search and Rescue join specialist officers in carrying out searches along the walking route from Clapham to Brixton.

Ms Everard's family also issue a statement, saying: "With every day that goes by we are getting more worried about Sarah. She is always in regular contact with us and with her friends and it is totally out of character for her to disappear like this. We long to see her and want nothing more than for her to be found safe and well.

"We are so grateful to the police and all our friends for all they are doing. We are desperate for news and if anyone knows anything about what has happened to her, we would urge you to please come forward and speak to the police. No piece of information is too insignificant."

March 7

Detectives discover new CCTV footage that shows Ms Everard was walking alone on the A205 Poynders Road towards Tulse Hill at around 9.30pm on 3 March.

The Met’s Specialist Crime Command take over the operation “due to its complex nature and concerns for Sarah's welfare”.

The investigation includes searches and house-to-house enquiries in the area.

Detective Chief Inspector Katherine Goodwin stresses they have “no information at this stage to suggest anything untoward may have happened to Sarah” and thanks locals for coming forward with information.

March 8

Scotland Yard says it remains "open minded as to all possibilities" over Ms Everard's disappearance, confirming it is “definitely a missing persons investigation at the moment”.

DCI Goodwin confirms a hat they found as part of the search was not the one Ms Everard was seen wearing the night she disappeared.

She adds that they have received over a hundreds calls from the public and have spoken to over 750 people as part of the investigation.

Police issue another appeal for dashcam footage, saying they are particularly interested in anyone who may have driven along Poynders Road at around 9pm on 3 March.

March 9

Police use sniffer dogs to search gardens in streets around the search site near Ms Everard's envisaged route home and in the nearby Oaklands Estate.

Officers also search a pond in Clapham Common and drains along the A205.

Fresh images of Ms Everard - wearing the coat in which she disappeared - are released, as police renew appeals for the public's help.

Later in the day, a cordon is set up around the Poynders Court housing complex on Poynders Road as part of the search, with forensics officers seen examining the area.

Meanwhile, taxi giant Uber uses GPS data to ask any of their 45,000 London drivers who were nearby when Sarah Everard disappeared to contact the police if they have any relevant information.

11:54pm March 9

Just before midnight, police reveal they have arrested a serving Metropolitan Police Officer in connection with Ms Everard’s disappearance.

The arrest is made at an address in Kent, with the unnamed man taken into custody at a London police station.

A woman is also arrested at the same location on suspicion of assisting an offender.

Assistant Commissioner Nick Ephgrave says the fact the man is a serving police officer "is both shocking and deeply disturbing".

DCI Goodwin describes it as “a significant development” and says the force are still “doing everything we can to find Sarah”.

March 10

At 8.30am, Assistant Commissioner Nick Ephgrave holds a press conference outside New Scotland Yard, saying they believe the police officer arrested in connection with the disappearance "was not on duty at the time of Sarah's disappearance".

In the afternoon, police release a new statement revealing the man had been arrested on Tuesday 9 March on suspicion of kidnap.

They add he has now been further arrested on suspicion of murder and a separate allegation of indecent exposure.

Scotland Yard also confirm the man arrested is a serving Metropolitan Police officer in the Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection Command who worked as a uniformed patrol officer at diplomatic premises.

Sadiq Khan comments on Sarah Everard's disappearance

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan comments on the arrests, saying he had been in touch with the Met Police Commissioner on the issue.

Mr Khan adds his team have been in contact with Ms Everard's family and her disappearance is "heartbreaking and heart-wrenching".

In Deal, Kent, police are seen searching a property on Freemens Way, with a tent erected outside a terraced house and nearby woodland scoured by officers and dog units.

Around a 40 minute drive away, officers also conduct searches near to Great Chart Golf and Leisure in Ashford, Kent. The site is a disused paintball, archery and golf centre that closed in April 2019.

8:20pm March 10

Met Police Commissioner Cressida Dick confirms in a statement that "what appears to be human remains" have been found in woodland in Ashford.

"We are not able to confirm any identity. That may take some considerable time," she said.

Ms Everard's disappearance in "awful and wicked circumstances" are every family's nightmare, Ms Dick added.

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She said: "The news today that it was a Metropolitan Police officer who was arrested on suspicion of Sarah's murder has sent shockwaves and anger through the public and through the Met.

"I speak on behalf of all my colleagues when I say that we are utterly appalled at this dreadful, dreadful news.

"Our job is to patrol the streets and to protect people."

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March 11

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he was "shocked and deeply saddened", adding: "We must work fast to find all the answers to this horrifying crime."

"I am shocked and deeply saddened by the developments in the Sarah Everard investigation," he said.

"Like the whole country my thoughts are with her family and friends. We must work fast to find all the answers to this horrifying crime."

And London Mayor Sadiq Khan admitted the capital's streets are not safe for women or girls when asked by LBC's Shelagh Fogarty: "London's streets are not safe for women, are they?"

He said: "No, they aren't - or for girls - and it's really important that people of my gender understand that.

"If you're a woman or a girl, your experiences of our city, in any public space, whether it's in the workplace on the streets, on public transport is very different to if you are a man or a boy, and it's really important that people like me in positions of power and influence understand that and take steps to address that."

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4:54pm March 11

The Metropolitan Police officer suspected of kidnapping and murdering Sarah Everard was taken to hospital for a head injury sustained while in custody.

Scotland Yard said the suspect, who is in his 40s, was treated, discharged and returned to the police station where he is being held.

He was found collapsed and unconscious in his cell on Thursday after suffering serious head wounds, according to the Sun.

The Met said: "The suspect was taken to a hospital for treatment to a head injury sustained while in custody.

"He has since been discharged and returned to custody. We are not prepared to discuss further."

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March 12

Police confirm that human remains that were found in Kent woodland on Wednesday are those of Sarah Everard.

Speaking to reporters outside Scotland Yard, Assistant Commissioner Nick Ephgrave said: "As you know, on Wednesday evening detectives investigating the disappearance of Sarah Everard discovered a body secreted in woodland in Kent.

"The body has now been recovered and formal identification procedure has now been undertaken.

"I can now confirm that it is the body of Sarah Everard."

Assistant Commissioner Ephgrave also said that Sarah Everard's family had been told this "most distressing news".

9pm March 12

Serving police constable Wayne Couzens, 48, was charged with kidnapping and killing Sarah.

Couzens was taken to hospital earlier today after sustaining a head injury whilst in custody.

He was released a short time later and taken back into custody.

This was the second time he has received treatment for a head injury, having been taken for treatment on Wednesday.

Clapham vigil organisers: 'Hands were completely tied' to cancel

March 13

Serving Metropolitan Police officer Wayne Couzens appeared in court charged with the kidnap and murder of Sarah Everard.

He was remanded in custody to appear at the Old Bailey on Tuesday March 16.

Meanwhile, a vigil for Sarah on Clapham Common in south London was cancelled following discussions with police.

Anyone who has information that may assist the investigation should call the Incident Room on 0208 785 8244.

Information can also be provided to detectives using the Major Incident Portal or by calling Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.