Thetownend.com

I dont know if anyone has heard about the gym instructor from the Olympiad thats gone missing?

And I saw on the news that its been a year since that Chef lady Claudia Lawerence went missing

Its so sad and must be so frustrating for friends and family just not knowing whats happened?

Do people just dissapear??

Surely if people have gone taking no possessions or money there must be something suspect going on?

There was a young lad who went missing in bath over the christmas period. His friends and family did a massive poster campaign. His name escapes me now...Tragically his body was pulled from the river several weeks later.
There are now posters relating to the guy above on the same lamposts in bath (if its the same guy, I think the posters refer to him being a gym instructor).
As a parent, there can be nothing worse...

I still think of the parents of Ben needham...(he went missing as a toddler from the island of KOS about 16 years ago)...do they lead a normal life now, or is it a living hell still?

@Jimmy

It was Casper who was from Melksham but went missing in Bath. The latest is from Chippenham.

Yeah thats the same gym instructor guy Jimmy - his names Donavan

I know when they found the body of Melanie Hall recently at least it was some closure for the family after all those years of uncertainty  

Some of them will just end up living on the streets. Difficult to understand unless you've been in a really, really bad place - just walking away from everything can seem a good solution to your problems.

Casper, my little brother knew him.

Very thin line between staying and going at times.  I feel for Friends and Family

i know alot of people who know dom. Its pretty sad and totally out of character for him! very sad!

I know the guy that's been arrested for murdering him!!!  To say Im shocked is am understatement!! :eek:

Sex, money or power....... which one do you reckon???

Hmmmm dunno he also works in the leisure industry it's just random could be any of them really

Women.  Its always down to the birds.

The bloke was good looking........i fear revenge... tradegy whatever...

Yeah it's dead weird to think a murder happened round here with people you know involved very sad though the guy had 2 kids

Have they found the lad then, or charged the suspect with murder while they continue searching?

Dont Think they have found him - but looks like they are searching the fram - I think that might be were Suggy lives?

I just read something horrid ref the search for Donavan

Apparently some people got in touch with this “physic” lady on Facebook and Ive read a bit of it and she was telling people she knew where Don was and first of all she was saying that he had been taken to Wales and stuff – She told people she was in touch with the police and they were following her clues - loads of people who were obviously like really upset and desperate for answers started hanging on to her every word – now she’s saying stuff like he’s in the river in Chippenham and people are going into town and digging in places and looking in storm drains and stuff – They could be messing up the police investigation or putting themselves in danger?

Its so sad – she is obviously praying on the desperate and vulnerable

*Preying. (Sorry to be grammar nazi, but it could easily be confused in this case).

Regardless, what a bitch.

Oh sorry! I think Im going doolally today

The whole thing is playing on my mind a bit - I saw my friend who works in the Olyimpiad last night and she told me some stuff that made me feel sad

Then I thought I saw Suggy in the supermarket and it freaked me out

JFW - I had to drop my youngest off with Grandma in Startley this morning.  Usually go over the M4 roundabout towards Malmesbury and then 1st turn right, but the road was closed with a copper sat there.  I took next left through Stanton which takes you to that lane a different way but there was another copper stopping you going right back towards the bend.  Looks like the farm on the bend down there may well be where they are concentrating searching.  I dont know if thats where the chap lived or not.

Yeah I guess it must be? That's Stanton St Quinton isn't it?

I think so.  Its kind of a farm on the outskirts of stanton.

Could someone help me understand how someone could be charged for murder when no body has been found?

He may have admitted it but is refusing to tell them where he dumped the body

Obviously we don't know what evidence the police have, but there's no reason why they shouldn't be able to suggest somebody murdered somebody without having a body.

I'm not sure I explained that too well.

police could have information that an altercation took place,or that someone had made threats,etc,etc.
the person charged must have had their name crop up alot during the investigation

OMG thats such a horrible thought - I just cant imagine Suggy being so horrible  :cry:
Although obviously deep down he was that horrible all along??
Its screwing my head up a bit - I  kept having bad dreams last night about being murdered

I think that what JFW is asking how can somebody be done for murder without even being sure that the 'vicitim' is dead.

In which case, I can only think of a confession as Fred said.

Yeah thats kind of what I was thinking Bankok Red

Or a substantial amount of evidence that the person is dead - e.g. person goes missing, evidence of last being seen having argument/fight, large quantity of blood at site etc. There's been quite a few cases where people have gone on to be convicted without a body having been found but with overwhelming secondary evidence that they were dead.

was matey shagging his mrs?

He was probably arrrested on suspicion of murder, not murder itself.

There is a difference between being arrested and being charged....I'm afraid I'm not familiar with all the details that clearly you have, JFW and others, being a long way away, but I didn't read anyone saying he had actually been charged with murder.  Often someone will be arrested because allegations have been made, and that is a way of ensuring that the person arresetd has access to all the proper procedures and rights.

No hes has been charged I think - well its says he appreard in court charged with the murder? is that the same thing??
http://www.wiltshire.police.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1291&catid=43:news&Itemid=50

He must have confessed then.

not necessarily

You're always arrested on suspicion of committing an offence. That's kind of the point of the whole trial malarkey

Yep, charged=charged.

I just hope they find his body soon to get sone closure - I find myself checking the news and the facebook group all the time.
Has anyone else on here ever known someone that's murdered someone?

God that's s bit of a random question isn't it!!    :eek:

No.

But I've come close a few times.

i know someone who killed his mrs and chopped her up infront of his toddler.
i also know someone who ran away from town as he was going to get shot.(aint seen him in 8 years but he's still alive)

yes i have....but not well.  Its a horrible thing, but there are usually complicated issues between the people involved, and complicated psychological issues involved with the person who commits the crime...and however awful the crime, and the terrible consequences for everyone, I would not go down the "Daily Mail" line against the vast majority of those who are convicted.  Its very easy to condemn people (notwithstanding Arriba's experience).

I used to drink with the hell's angel's in the old bell. They had a few stories to tell but I don't know how many were true.

I also know a few dodgy people (Including coppers) in Pattaya, which is part of the reason that I moved back to Bangkok.

Oh my god I think my bad dreams might get worse tonight!!
Arriba that sounds awful? How long ago was that ?

Yes my babysitter back when I was 8 was a good friend of my Mums, She stabbed her husband to death 2 floors below us.

the lad i know who killed his mrs was a classmate of mine during primary school.
was all over the adver and i'm sure others will know him.must have been about 5 years ago that he killed her.
handed himself in and confessed all after attempting suicide.

he was a strange kid but you never expect to hear these things.
even after leaving the area i lived in, i would see him in town and out and about.always said hello and that.

was he the kind of kid that would walk around whilst spinning in a circle?

he did exactly that.all the way from his house to and from school.
did you go to pinehurst then?

Yep...i went to school with a Robert Mantack...he used to scare the shite out of me,got done for murdering his wife/girlfriend....hes out soon so ile say no more!

Was that the one in the allotments near the county ground

Think so...few years back now.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2004/may/04/ukcrime.features11

Suprised no one has mentioned this yet.Still reckon this bloke was innocent

hmm yeah I had nearly forgotten about that case - did they ever find her body??

Nearly started crying in the corner shop today when I picked up the Gazzette and saw the front page  :(

no, but we had some kids like that at school.

i dont think theyve become murderers yet though!

*bump* court case has started now
They think Suggy carried out the "perfect murder" leaving not a shred of evidence
God it's mental to think I used to think of him as a friend

Innocent until proven guilty and all that...

I know some one who has murdered some one and some one else who has been murdered.





FACT!
(Two totally seperate incidents I should point out)

Be interesting to see what evidence the prosecution can muster if its a perfect murder.  I still find it all very strange.  Obviously didn't know him like you did JFW but it does feel weird that the geezer who I saw every week at my kids swimming lessons is in court for murder.

Apparently the last place Donavans phone signal was found was at Suggys house then they found books of weird stuff.. People he wanted to kill etc
I'd kind of forgotten the trial was soon till I saw some signs up in the Olympiad staff room on Friday

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-wiltshire-12732832

That's seriously chilling.

Bad dreams for me tonight! :(

Looks like there's a girl gone missing in Swindon?

Yes, you retweeted it.

I was in Suju last night. Spooky

A students gone missing in bath too. Not good

Because I saw it on Luci & Dannis Twitter & thought I'd be nice and try & help!
Bum face!

My response was more i why you were questioning it

There's an entire defence and most of a midfield been missing in Swindon for the last 8 months

http://www.wiltshire.police.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2853&catid=44%3Aappeals&Itemid=389

I was coming on here to put that on here. You guys beat me too it. My timeline on my facebook is fully of this link. Its even made the mirror. Hope they find Sian.

Scary stuff.

I know I can't be the only one who knows Sian, her brother or her other half.

Can't imagine what they are going through.

Thoughts are with them.

doesn't look good.

Of course he may well be guilty but the notion that there's no evidence is evidence enough makes a complete joke of our justice system!

Read somewhere that the last trace from the signal on her mobile was Savernake. Doesn't look hopeful at all.

Indeed.

Nothing else to report after a day of searching.

It doesnt look hopeful, sadly...

God this is terrible my thoughts go out to her and the family.

I don't know her but I now realise I know her bloke. The longer it goes on the more you start to thing the worst has happened.

Another day, again nothing. I hope to god they find her alive and well. I just can't imagine what her family must be going through. It's just so so sad.  :(

Swindon's a small place!

Most people will know someone who knows someone else they know. I think Chubbs went to school with him.

Its very out of character. I'll be amazed if she's disappeared of her own accord....

Keep trying to get hold of my mates who are probably with the family now but obviously they've got other things on their agenda....

Do you know Sian then DV? I know Kev.

I know her enough to be her friend on facebook, to say hello and what not.

I used to work with Kev and I went to school and share the same circle of friends as her older brother.

if it's totally out of character,a breakdown of some sort is probably the best case scenario.
i dont want to say what i think has happend.i dont need to

Indeed.

I hope your right arriba, the other thing just doesn't bear thinking about.

Still searching for her  :(

Family press conference on the ITV news coming up apparently.

It's gone national aswell today. Hope they find her.  :(

None of the news coming out recently sounds very promising. Got a bad feeling about this

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-wiltshire-12830244

It's horrible Paul isn't it. I got a call from the police this morning telling us not to join in with the search.

It's really hit me  this has just hoping for news soon.

Its not good at all.

As my housemate not-so-eloquently put it, lets hope she's banging some bloke in Marlborough and cant bring herself to admit it, cos the other explanation doesn't bare thinking about

Same as. Just don't expect this kind of thing in our town. Which isn't rational, I know, but the places involved being so familiar and apparently knowing so many people who seem to know her/her family and it brings it all horribly closer to home. Let's hope and pray there's a good outcome

:(

These things rarely have a happy ending do they?
I was speaking to a customer at work last night who is friendly with Melanie Halls mother - it's all so very close to home again
I will continue to pray for Sian xx

So sorry that so many people are going through this terrible anxiety.  Just appalling for family and close friends, but you are all showing how it affects a much wider community as well, even in a place as big as Swindon. Even I as one brought up between Swindon and Savernake feel it.  From a long way away, we are thinking of you all, and praying for a positive outcome.

It's horrible... my own sister and girlfriend have done exactly the same as her many a time - left Suju alone in search of cab/kebab/fresh air and it makes it that little bit more shocking knowing that area so intimately. My mum works with her, and the whole place is in pieces.

It is heartening to see hundreds, if not thousands, of people in Swindon rallying round.

It is strange knowing a fair few people that know her. It's always been something you see on the tv, in the papers (obviously) but it does feel odd when it's happened in our home town and involving a place I've been to many times.

Hope she is found but... well, it doesn't look good at all.

Certainly is. Thankfully the worse case scenario is pretty rare, and when it does happen it is mostly by a person known to the victim meaning random events are very rare.

Needless to say I hope that this is not a worse case scenario. Unfortunately the indicators are not good at the moment.

There was an attempted abduction in the Manchester Road area yesterday morning and there are rumours going round our office that there was another attempted abduction on County Road today.

There were apprently 2 more attempted yesterday.

I have heard this too and I know one of the girls! Not seen any sources to back this up though

Police confirmed the one yesterday morning.

Are they being linked to this case?

Explicitly not, in the case of the one yesterday at least:

http://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/news/8926495.MISSING_WOMAN__Elmina_Road_incident_not_linked_to_Sian_disappearance/

Attempted Abductions of people in broad daylight, on busy main roads after what has happened on saturday to that poor girl seems a bit silly to me or asking to be caught.
I really hope that these are a case of rumours and whispers getting blown out of proportion.

Police have arrested someone

http://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/news/8930939.MISSING_WOMAN__Man_arrested_on_suspicion_of_kidnap/

From the Police

"We're still searching Savernake Forest. We are hopeful Sian is still alive."

Please god  i hope so.

Yeah a five star taxi was taken from ASDA at about 12pm.

assuming this is the guy, its amzing how quick the police were onto him...fair play to them...

Echoed

Spot on Deano, everything else is secondary

my mrs saw him get arrested, they swarmed in on him, took his taxi straight away

supposedly a five star taxi, only been in business a week or two.

The owners daughter is going on with my cousin apparently. Swindon is too small!

Jeez...wouldn't it be brilliant if she was.

Will say a silent prayer and hope.

Did someone say there is a press conference at 430?

Tent erected at address in Swindon..lets hope its just for forensics.

definite police presence in Nythe.

seen it all with my own eyes and all that.

Praying it leads to the outcome the whole of Swindon wants.

News conference due at 5pm

Will it be broadcast live anywhere?

dunno about live but all the press are there naturally and Sky had the last one up on their website pretty quickly.

something deffo going on in nythe.
helicopter about there etc.

According to a friend on FB there is a tent up in a garden in Ashbury Ave in Nythe.

Yes.

The longer it goes on...the bleaker it looks.

For a while it looked promising.

Fucking hell so so sad.

2 murders

Oh, shit no. Man arrested for kidnap and 2 murders. Two bodies being recovered, one of the bodies believed to be Sian. Worst possible news

jesus christ...

fuck

I hate to say it.

But if there's more than the one expected, there's likely to be more!

Jesus that's terrible. Worst case scenario. Thoughts with the families involved.

Thoughts to all.

What would posess someone to do that?

What a cunt.

Terrible.....with that evil pervert in London....now this.

We indeed live in a world that is sickening at times.

that pervert will have to get used to being raped in prison now..
as for sian, so so sad

RIP Sian

 :(

I really thought she'd be found alive and well - Absolutely gutted.
My thoughts and condolences to the family and friends of Sian. :(

Fucking twisted prick i hope he burns in hell  >:(

r.i.p Sian, i met you a few times in the past through freinds and you seemed a lovely girl, you didnt deserve this

I feel sorry for this guys family aswell, he has a wife and kids and they also has to live with this

Christopher Halliwell. 47 year old Taxi Driver

reported from the sun

Is he married to a Lisa Halliwell?

havent got a clue, but he lived in nythe

Divorced from her

Fuck me, some of my mums family know her quite well, bit surreal.

right under my nose almost, sickening.

he even had wanted posters in his fucking taxi.

it destroys me inside just thinking about what the O'Callaghan and Reape family are going through right now.

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/3489640/Body-found-in-hunt-for-Sian.html?OTC-RSS&ATTR=News

i cant beleive they want people who knew him to phone em.   fuck sake   ::)

This really is absolutely terrible. One was horrendous, but to have what sounds like a serial killer, a Swindonian as well.

Im lost for words.

Sums up my feelings Dv. Absolutely devastated,such a lovely girl.

Same.

There searching near wantage now too

That is sickening.

I know that this is in no way good news, but at least we know they have him now. There is nothing that can be done about the victim's but at least others are safe from this evil person.

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/3489640/Body-found-in-hunt-for-Sian.html?OTC-RSS&ATTR=News

this where the bodies were found.

what was with savernake forrest? was it a decoy

I think im in shock a bit to be honest.

I only really know Sian through association but Liam (her brother) and Kev are two of the nicest, most genuine people I know and it hurts that they are hurting...

Yeah they are mate the whole family are. Fucking sickening and brings home just how lucky we are at times.

I don't know Sian, her family or her friends but I am absolutely horrified. It's gut wrenching, I feel like I've been punched in the stomach.

This. She worked with my old dear who is in pieces, and i recognise her from nights out and mutual friends but i had no proximity to her at all... but it made me feel sick hearing the worst, i guess she was one of our own. Devastating news.

I don't know her, or her family.

But I find myself shedding a tear, which is unlike me. Perhaps it is because the TEF and facebook made me aware of her plight and of the hope that she would be found.

I fear there are more bodies to be found. The fact that he had a wanted poster in his taxi suggests something quite profound.

RIP Sian.


I don't think you can gain a rational explanation from an irrational act. If he did it he is a sick fucker and hopefully he'll never see daylight beyond the prison walls again.

edit: No IF he did it. He told the police where to find the bodies.

Where have you heard he told police that Batch?

It was in the press conference...

They said on the press conference

Horrific.

Absolutley awful. RIP

Do you reckon one of the bodies could be the kid who dissapeared in bath the other week? I know it's a cliche, but this is the type of thing that always seems to happen somewhere else and to other people. To have it happen under our noses is terrible

Despite never having lived in Swindon and now living even further away, it feels like this happened on my doorstep.

Horrific news. RIP.

I keep wanting to say that as well.

But it isn't always, not in cases like this.

Horrible news. I didn't know any of the people involved but just for it to be so close and to know people who knew her is horrific.

RIP.

I must of missed that bit. Cheers

So fucked up, thoughts go out to the friends and family.

This has really put me off using taxi's now, dont know who to trust

Assuming your not a tiny 5ft woman, I think you'll be fine

I don't really like how people that didn't know her are making out as if they care. (judging from my facebook)

It's obviously dreadful, an horrific thing for anyone to go through, but I didn't see these people giving a shit about countless other people that have met a similar fate.

I think its because its all a bit close to home

When it's in your own town it hits home harder! It's bang out of order for you to criticise people for being upset and shocked about the whole thing!

Do you know many people in Swindon who have met a 'simalar fate' then do you? Maybe they do care ffs

Time and place gents.......

I kind of agree although dont think you put it very tactfully, I think some people have got a bit swept up in it but then it's inevitable if its closer to home.

You can all abuse me if you like but the truth is this won't stop me sleeping tonight and I bet that's true of MOST of us who've expressed our grief and horror about it.

Edit; that sounds a bit cuntish but it's hard to articulate my sentiments properly without sounding like an insensitive bellend.

That's a much better way of putting it, yes. I was struggling to think of the right way to put it, I must admit.

I think it's a "community" thing.  I'm sure everyone thinks how horrible it is whenever it happens anywhere, but the fact that it's so close to home, with places mentioned that we've probably all been in several times over, somehow makes it ll the worse.

I don't know any of the people involved either, but it has chilled me to the core.  Speaking as a girl who's actually done a "disappearing act" after a nightclub (family and police called, etc) it's pretty shocking.  And I have relatives living in Ashbury Avenue, cannot imagine how weird they're feeling right now...

So rightly or wrongly, people in the local community will always show stronger reactions to this kind of thing I think.

RIP Sian

EDIT: Although it won't stop me from sleeping at night, perhaps it will encourage me to be a little more cautious in my day-to-day life...

Very true BR sorry. DMR you are right and i know it won't affect many just thought as you said it wasn't very tactfull.

I'm genuinely sorry man, I didn't mean to cause any offence.

True and it's not like I've not sat here and thought about it, I know a couple of people who are seriously cut up about this, having know the girl and I'll leave them to it.

Just found out that I've been in this guys taxi and he had my friends girlfriend and mother of his baby in his cab alone the night before - now that has chilled me.

Live like a minute from the house in Ashbury Avenue. Walked down the street thousands of times. In absolute shock.

I think people are so cut up because they can relate to this terrible news in many ways. As DV said pages back, most people know someone who did know her, the family or her boyfriend. How many people have wandered alone after a boozy night out (or a non-boozy one for that matter)? Practically everyone will have done this themselves or witnessed others doing it and on the streets where this happened too. And then there's the age group too - a lot of youngsters will emotionally connect to this event because they would see Sian as 'one of them' but people slightly older who have kids, especially of that age, will be emotionally entangled for that reason.

When I read about other murders they can shake me up a bit but not like this, so in that respect I would agree with the points above. In the past there have been two murders around the corner from where I live and they haven't go to me like this one.

Maybe it's a sign that there's still a sense of community in Swindon.  Nothing wrong with that.  I think there's nothing strange at all that people are more affected by a tragedy that has unfolded in their home town.  Swindon would be a poorer place if there was not a collective pulling together and reflection after events like these.

RIP.  My thoughts are with the victims' families and the people who knew them best.

What a sad, sad day.  The news that we had all been hoping we wouldn't hear, it's absolutely dreadful.  

I didn't know Sian or her family, but like the majority of people living in Swindon, this has affected me greatly for the reasons stated above.  A couple of my line reports at work knew her well and are completely devastated.  

It's often said after a tragic event, but it seems so true of this one 'you don't expect something like that to happen here'.  Murders in Swindon are rare anyway, but they're usually domestic cases or at least the person knew the killer.  I can't recall anything this horrific before.

Thoughts are with her family and friends and those of the unnamed victim.

I feel absolutely betrayed by this man. Maybe that isnt rational, but he has let everyone down in this Town.

It just shows what a sick world we live in.

R.I.P Thoughts out to the family.

Very sad.

Its strange because everyone seems to know the girl or know her family or at least have some connection 1 step away from them. Its certainly made Swindon seem a much smaller place than I thought it was, but its been admirable how the whole town seemed to want to get involved to find her.I think people genuinly wanted to help.You certainly saw both the good and bad side of the social networking sites.At one point it seemed every other status update was reporting yet another (made up?) abduction,there seemed to be a certain amount of internet based hysteria which made me cringe a bit.

This is the rare type of situation where you can't describe what your feeling. All I can say is that I'm absolutely gutted for Kev and all her family, other than that I can't describe what I'm feeling, words fail me  :( :(

I completely agree with your sentiments, though he hasn't actually been found guilty yet.

Condolences to the family at this utterly vile act. At what point a person makes a decision to perpetrate such a heinous crime against an innocent human being is beyond imagining!

 I take quite a few early morning coaches from Bournemouth to London, 2/3/4am and the amount of women alone I see in the town centre tottering about scantily clad in an intoxicated state is shocking. Then there's the guys lurking around with obvious bad intent. Girls, take special caution on nights out, sad world that we live in!

One sad bastard, driving around town in his taxi displaying the official police posters!!  And it appeard he has killed two people, the other not identified yet!  I am proud of Swindon in the way they united in the search for her, I hope justice will be done and this bastard is locked away for ever!

Don't get me wrong, it has been a sad day and I feel for the loved ones of the young girls family, but has anyone stopped to think about the other victim?! What about their poor family?

really feel for the family and the genuine friends of the girl,and whoever the second victim is and their family.
plenty of hanger ons to this tragic story though that almost make me as sick as for the crime itself.
women were dragging their kids along to the street in nythe to get a look.crap on facebook etc.morons the lot of em.

looks like the police have done a great job on this by the way.credit where it's due.

I would never have suspected this bloke was capable of doing this.(If it was indeed him)

Just got home from night out. I was extremely sad to hear this news anyway but even more so after passing Suju's tonight to see the flowers and candles left outside in sympathy for Sian.

Can't help feeling sympathy and sadness about this even though I do not know anyone closely involved.

RIP Sian and sincere condolancies to her family, boyfriend and close friends.

What a fucking nightmare.

I feel so sorry for the kids family. Most of all, I feel sorry for her though. A young girl with her life ahead of her.

To die of natural causes at such a young age is bad enough, but to be deliberately taken out by someone in a trusted position such as a local cab driver, is devastating.

I didn't know Sian. Swindon is still a small town though. Most people know someone who knows someone that you know, so, Sian is connected to many people via friends and family over several generations who are also similarly connected.

Like someone said earlier, 'she's one of us'.

No shame therefore in anyone shedding tears, getting lost in your thoughts or rubber-necking the murderers house, SuJu, or saying a few words on FB, Twitter etc.

 

Dear me this is sad news to come home too. She was a friend of the missis a very nice girl was always smiling.

Pretty sure that Wiltshire Police are the only force in the country to have a 100% detection rate on murders... adds a little bit of comfort in a horrible situation

I didn't know Sian - Im not normally the sort of person who gets easily swayed into stories like this but it's really touched me
Maybe as others have said it's just cause it's so close to home
This could easily been one of my friend
I myself wandered off drunk a while back and got a taxi on my own
Im always do over cautious with my friends even if I drop them off in the car I have to wait till I can see them inside there house with the light on but now I just never wanna let them out of my sight

I can't begin to imagine how her family, boyfriend etc are feeling
RIP Sian

Didn't know here, or any of her family/close friends and I haven't lived in Swindon for nearly 20 years.

It has hit home though, a lot more than this type of thing usually does, mainly I think because I know people that did know her.

My sympathies go to all that are affected by what this sick and twisted individual has done.

Deeply sad for everyone who has been affected by this terrible story, including the family of the second victim; and as one not particularly enamoured with the Police generally at the moment, well done to Wiltshire Police on a situation apparently very well-handled.  If good can come from such tragedy, I hope that a stronger, more resilient and determined community will emerge in Swindon in due course.

Just so very sad.  Very weird seeing places you know well on the TV news,  knowing it could have been my daughter.  Police seem to have done well.  Hopefully no more girls will disappear.  All my thoughts with the families.

Similar thoughts. Never lived in Swindon - just supported the footie team. Don't know any of the people involved, but feel saddened, touched by the response and pleased at the police response.  

I don't know any of you, but having watched people post for a couple of years you get in idea of more than just 'cyber-personalities'. The fact that many of you are affected in some way is bound to rub off on the rest of us. Found myself talking to the wife about it last night and reminding her to be careful as there are lots of nasty people out there.

Firstly the news yesterday was awful, so sad to hear of the loss of Sian's life, I also did not know her but it has really hit home due to knowing people that knew her and her family, I think Swindon as a community has done itself proud this week, everyone was united and rallied around to try to find her, just such a shame we didn't get the ending we all hoped for, Sians safe return.  RIP to her, my thoughts are with her family, her boyfriend and her friends.

Can understand your irritation with people turning up at crime scenes etc but the stuff on facebook has done alot of good work, getting people to meet up and put up posters, organising vigils at the church, sharing information the police were giving out, I believe the person that alerted the police to seeing the taxi yesterday had seen the car description on facebook, you may not be a fan of the site but I would say it was a key tool in helping the police and the public keep updated.  The people on facebook were not morons, many of the comments on there were great, not only people expressing there sympathy to the family but also arranging various iniatives to help with the search and IMO the people on facebook played a part in helping create an excellent community spirit.

most of the comments on facebook were of course done in the right way and respectful.many are not though.those are the ones i am referring to.
along with the chav mums from the neighbouring estate who dragged their kids along to have a look.

Terrible news.....thoughts to the family(ies).

Do you know him?  Apparently he has confessed.

I don't know him as such. But he knows my mates girlfriend and has done for a while - through giving them lifts I think and he would sort them out with a cheap ride if she called him. So her and a few of her friends would use him. He took us to London once and picked a couple of us up from Old Town as well in fact.

That's the scary thing, he was obviously trusted and well respected not only by your mates sister etc. but by his neighbours, family and seemingly a very nice man. And then he goes and kills at least two people. I could live until 150 and still wouldn't know what possessed him. It's so so sad.

We have to be weary of the bad guys but when you have to weary of the seemingly good guys that's when it becomes frightening.

My parents know him as they are both taxi drivers and my friends know him aswell, One of my friends told me he used to pick her up and walk her to the door to make sure she got home safe after nights out.

My mum told me he always a bit aloof and seemed to be a bit of a loner who was always trying to impress people and used brag about certain things. The rumour around the taxi fraternity is that they think the first murder was at least 10 yrs ago and thought to be a prostitute and they also looking into the melanie hall case.

R.I.P Sian you did't deserve this especially when you done everything right by getting a taxi home.     

Yeah, as Rustle mentioned, he did seem a bit aloof, but he seemed decent enough and as you say that is extremely frightening. It is dreadful, hopefully people don't mistake my previous post as dismissing this entire thing - I fully understand and appreciate the gravity of this horrific time.

This is a key point for me, the most awful abuse of trust. She only had to walk 500 yds or so, but then did the safe thing and got a cab...hmmm, grim.

All this profiling of the guy can go on and on and on...what is it that turns a relatively 'normal' guy to do something like this. As others have said, I dont think we will ever understand.

2 minutes silence at the next home game please.

Seems she knew him.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/8405913/Sian-OCallaghan-knew-murder-suspect-taxi-driver-through-his-children.html

The most recent press conference explained a bit more about the potential second murder victim and why it isn't a simple case of recovering the body:

- Apparently the area being searched is near Northleach
- The potential murder would have happened several years ago.
- There is only one missing (Adult) person report from Wiltshire that is unresolved, and this was from several years ago..

They said it was inappropriate to comment further at this stage.

Terrible news, feel for the poor girl and her family

Be very careful talking specifics about people who are now involved in a murder case. Not only could you make the admins liable, you could prejudice any future trial.

I know what you're saying but what i have mentioned would not prejudice anything as it's only stuff you would see reporters print in papers,I've not said everything i have been told because of the reason you mentioned.

I echo these sentiments.

Someone on facebook has said the players are wearing black armbands tomorrow and there will be a minutes silence at the next game.

Fair play to the club if that is true

How the fuck the press can justify printing his stepdaughters name disgusts me.He has also ruined there lives and they are struggling enough as it is.

So wrong

Is in the sun?

Cunty newspaper

Telegraph names them by first name, saw that earlier :(

Any sane person would view them as victims too.

Raised my eyebrows a tad as well.

I even ended up doing a google on them. Nothing nasty, I just wondered If I know them at all (the name sounds familiar.

I know the two older ones very well they have had to delete facebook etc already.They are such lovely girls aswell and would of known sian.

They will be going through hell now 

As one paper has printed the step girls first name and another their surnames I'm pretty certain I went to school with one of them back in Junior school. Not that, that matters - its very harsh to have anything against them. They've done nothing wrong, as has been said they probably know Sian.

Sadly, the news that she knew the taxi driver is of no surprise. The fact at no point the police have indicated there was any sort of struggle involved leads you to that way of thinking.

As for the second body, did that teacher(?) who went missing years ago (Linda something?) was that ever resolved.

Last of all, seeing her 11 year old brother write 'I love you Sian' on her wall, set me off big time :(

It's not just the Telegraph, all of them do. Probably because they've all picked up the story from the same stringer.

I kind of expect that sort of shitty behaviour from the nationals, but it's pretty fucking poor that the Gazette & Herald are doing it too (they name the mother, not the daughters but it's the same issue and would still clearly identify the whole family), you'd expect more sensitivity from a local paper.

http://www.gazetteandherald.co.uk/news/towns/wiltshire/8932957.Melanie_detectives_alerted_by_Sian_murder_squad_team/

DRS, you should tell them to complain to the PCC - it's a clear violation of their privacy and there's no public interest justification whatever (the public being interested in something does NOT amount to something being in the public interest before anyone starts)

http://www.pcc.org.uk/complaints/makingacomplaint.html

As you say, it's a fucking disgrace they've been dragged into the public eye in this way - as Batch says, they're victims of this bastard as well.

Linda Razzell?

She was never found, but her husband was charged with (and is serving time for) her murder - so I don't think they'd class that one as 'unresolved'.

I will do Paul cheers mate. Linda Razzell i think it was DV the husband has been convicted but that was a very murky case with many thinking he didn't do it as the body was never found.

This is true Tans

That's what i thought but suppose with no body it's still unresolved

linda razzell was the name that sprung to my mind.never found so it's a possibility.
facebook morons have been threatening the alleged murderers kids.
i've also noted the groups set up have become free for alls with abuse of individuals,and 'i knew her better then you' morons.
they are fucking scum as far as i'm concerned.

Just shows the pros and cons of social networking. On the one hand information travels extremely quickly. On the other hand people post the first thing that comes into their head, which is often pretty undignified.

Agreed arriba........i have often thought of starting a Facebook page........some of the comments i have read on my daughters page shows me the reasons why i am glad i didn't bother.

As always a small minority ruining things.

Yep, unfortunately the petty internet squabbles are taking over and even resulted in one pages admin asking if people think the other page should be deleted.

Fucking pathetic.

Tina Pryer, last seen getting into a taxi in 2001 in Trowbridge is the name linked in the press.

by all accounts a page run by someone with no link to Sian anyway.

The page should be handed over to a close family friend.

I don't think a family friend should have to read all the shit thats posted and have to delete the shit the trolls put up.

fair point.

Still think rather that, than someone with no link who seems to be after 'having a better page' than someone else.

The mystery admin is even banning people. Banning people from a page where they want to pay their respects to a beautiful girl, being an 'admin' doesnt give them the fucking right to do that at all.

I think Facebook is a trillion miles from the minds of those truly touched with sadness by this, or worse still earth shatteringly devastated. Those people falling over themselves to write a lament on Facebook are being self-indulgent.

Not completely true.

Didn't realise you were on Facebook

I'm not, don't expect i'll ever be either, for that I need friends  ;D

I agree, especially after the picture I saw earlier. I won't say anything else.

Went missing on 19th March 2002.

A spooky coincidence?

Probably, but it's very spooky indeed.

I think that is just coincidence. In the police press conference they said there was only one unresolved case in Wiltshire. I think the Razzell case would be classed as resolved as a conviction was made.

Same with Donavan Van Lill, the trial is on going there of course..

Tina Pryer AFAIK was never found and nobody charged.

Was working at the Olympiad today - speaking to some of the guys who had to give evidence this week. Pretty shitty stuff

Yeah JFW. The world is a shit and unjust place sometimes.

Hmmm sure is
Have had several parents whose children are on my cheerleading course there ask me not to mention anything relating to the case
The alleged murder was there swimming teacher - alot of parents have just told the kids he's "moved to another swimming pool"
To be fair i Wouldn't want to explain to an 8 year old girl what actually happened!

I must admit, i don't know too much about that case... highlights some flaws in my insular way of thinking.

@JFW - Not surprised. You want your kids to be safe, but you don't want to scare them. That reminds me of something. I'll put it in the "things you don't understand" thread to avoid derailing this one.

See they've now found what they think are human remains at the second site...

Not good :(

But on the other hand perhaps the discovery will allow a family to move on away from the "what if they aren't dead" and get them some justice.

Grim.

But, him having said there was a 2nd body it would have been more terrible if they hadnt found one because fammilies of missing people up and down the country would have been thinking is my son/daughter/wife buried in that field.

I am fairly certain thjere is a lot more to come from tis unfotunatly. Very rare for someone to leave such a large gap between killings.

 

if it is razzell, then fingers will quite rightly be pointed at the police who have had her hubby jailed for her murder.

My thoughts exactly

Indeed, you'd like to hope not...but...

Not very likely, they said this afternoon the remains were of a young woman and that she had disappeared from Swindon between 2003 and 2005. Both rule out Linda Razell

Hope not. I'm pinning my hopes on the fact he's apparently fessed up to two murders straight away, so if there were more killings why not admit them all? Once you've confessed to two murders, you're not going anywhere for a very, very long time anyway.

i see.

Pointless to speculate now, the post mortem wont take more than a couple of days, then we will know for sure who he buried in that field.

the policew know who it is already.they should just name the victim(or at least tell their family)like they did sian before she had been formally identified.

Post mortem? I doubt there is much left after 7 or more years??

More likely DNA/dental record identification. Might take longer.

OK, dental records, whatever. But we will know soon enough who it is. Im just saying that there isnt any need to speculate on it. There will be people affected going through absolute turmoil at the moment, and they will probably putting names into search engines non stop trying to get info, so we should just wait until they announce it?

Oh yeah, fair enough.

They probably have told the family, but I don't see the need to publicly name the victim until they've managed to do formal identification. Radio Wilts were saying they've not yet definitely ascertained they are human remains. Although they also said they thought they were the remains of a young woman, which does tend to back up your theory they know who they think it is. The police seem to have done a pretty good job of this so far, if they think there's a reason to hold back publicly naming the second victim, I'm inclined to trust they have good reason to do so.

keeping the vicims family informed is the most important thing.i'm sure they have done as you say, pauld.

you can't stop speculation though,no matter how bad that is for friends and loved ones.
everyone is talking about it.

Agree though it isn't always easy...the next of kin may live abroad etc.
Also with Helliwell in custody they will be anxious to get as much info out of him before going public.
Seems strange that it is a young lady from the Swindon area......surely someone must know of this poor girl/woman.

Yeah thought they said there was only one outstanding missing persons case?
Or am I being slow? As usual?

can see the lanterns up in the sky from my bedroom window.loads of them....

We're right over the other side of town, but there's a lot obviously been let off over this way by people who couldn't go to the Polo Ground or maybe didn't want to.  I've lit a candle in our dining room which I shall leave burning for the rest of the night as my family's gesture that we're thinking of Sian and her loved ones.

I've lit a light for Sian tonight, and all other people killed in atrocious circumstances

"Lit a light"

Good work son

Had to 'unfollow' the helpfindsian twitter thing because the person posting the updates appears to be enjoying the attention too much.

Was it the part where she invited people to follow her personal twitter account then tweeted about how she was so thrilled so many people wanted to follow "little old me"??!

Yes exactly that.

Likewise - seems like an attempt to get more followers as people are only following that feed as they care about Sian as opposed to what that individual does in her personal life.

That annoyed me too.

The one on Twitter to be fair isn't the same one as on facebook

I know - the one on Facebook is Heidi Jarcozy.

Likewise.

Or something like that innit

Gee, thank feck I never joined Facebook

Charged now.

Good, though I think that was a given.

agreed, he must've been an ace guesser unless he played some part in hiding bodies

Jesus Wept. This is the problem with the Facebook/post-Diana over-emoting in public, it attracts ghouls and no-marks with egos to push.

On a similar note, nice to see Halliwell's sister cashing in on the front of the Sun yesterday. Fucking appalling.

Let's not get the fantastic work of the women behind the facebook group mixed up with the person on twitter.

Out of interest and not being a twitterer who is the egomaniac behind it?

Very strong runour coming out of the investigation is that it IS Linda Razzell as he couldnt remember exactly when he disposed of the body (not much difference between 2002 and 2003) and that early reports of it being a young woman were slightly innacurate, after all Mrs Razzell was only 41 at the time of her disappearance, not exactly old.

I thought they found Linda Razzell's blood in the boot of her husband's car though?

By blood  though sam it was a speck which was missed on two previous checks. I read somewhere it was the equivelent of a pin pricks amount of blood.

Twitter person now tweeting something about offending people by asking for personal followers!
Do they read the TEF??

It didn't offend me but I only started following for news about Sian. It wasn't ever about anyone else which is where the statuses were headed

She was totally contradicting what she said to another newspaper the day or so before. From going from a position where she ''didn't think he was capable of doing it'' and that ''there was no argument as to why'' they hadn't spoken to each other for 20 years to '' he was really odd and it's not surprising that he did it, he was aloof and strange'' and '' I stopped speaking to him because he had a dark side''.

Truly and utterly despicable what people would do for a bit of money.

We don't don't know if she was paid or how the interview was conducted - journalists are pretty good at getting you to say things you don't mean or often the quotes printed bear no relation to what was actually said. The 'interview' I saw in the Sun didn't look that extensive - just a couple of quotes' which raises suspicions.

That said if she has sold the story then I agree it's despicable

sky news saying second victim aged between 23-30.
rules out razzell.

also has anyone seen the christopher halliwell rot in hell facebook page?
some of the comments regarding his family are disgusting.
if hell exists and he repents his sins(looks like he's admitted the crimes) they are forgiven anyway.off to heaven he will go.
the fucked up religion of christianity for you.

He'll go down and take the pussys way out by topping himself in prison.

The sick cunt

Stupid group. Things like that can jeapodise a case

Exactly, there's comments being made on there about other crimes he's supposedly committed.

I'm sure his own children and step children's lifes are difficult enough at the moment without idiots making comments and in some cases threats directed at them.  I don't imagine they'll ever be able to lead normal lifes again if they choose to remain in Swindon and are probably in hiding at present.  In my eyes and probably any reasonably sane person they are also victims of this man's crimes in a different way. 

Any sane normal person (including myself) would know it's not his family's fault and wouldn't blame them or give them shit as they are fuck all to do with this ! Fucking Morons !

Blimey, some of them come across as, erm, a bit unbalanced. They have a worryingly inventive catalogue of ways they'd like to see him "dye"

Saw some footage of the lanterns from the polo ground - there were literally 100s and it looked very impressive I have to say.

I know its trivial in the scheme of things but I think for the most the people of Swindon have done themselves a credit with how they are dealt with this tradegy...

also just seen that graffitti tribute, tis pretty good..(until some fuckwit defeaces it), anyone know where it is?

One answer is not to join or view said facebook pages, that is the reason they exist after all.

I have refused to look at most of those groups i am just on one i think. The shit the family are going through disgusts me his children and step children are going through hell now for what he has done and now they are getting shit off stupid little cunts.

 

Eugh some of the people "attacking" the police van going into court today looked a bit special
Just chanced young the Facebook group too
I understand people are angry but god there some super-thick uneducated twats posting on there
The sad thing is a million other people have been murdered and bet 99% of them never batted an eyelid

the bloke seen doing it on bbc news is a convicted violent attacker himself.

The social networking thing showed a great sense of community to begin with, but now all it seems to do is act as a sounding board for many idiots.

And don't get me started on the appalling level of spelling and grammar... it's absolutely atrocious.

The only word most of them DON'T struggle with is
C U Next Tuesday
The amount of women posting vile stuff on there appalled me

I feel for his family as much as Sian's. Their lifes have been ruined forever and they've probably lost a few friends.

Yes you have to feel for his children and step children. I think it's shocking to be honest. The thing is some people probably think they are going to be seen as knights in shining armour because they are slagging his family off etc but really they are just making themselves look stupid. I mean dont get me wrong people are appalled by what this man had supposidly done (he's not been tried and found guilty or innocent yet remember) but to turn up outside court when they know there will be a heavy police presence anyway is just pointless. In most cases it's about individual egos "look at me i'm doing this aren't I good?" type of thing.

This x 200.

A bit like that EDL laddie on the video, thinks hes doing the right thing, looks the big man in front of his mates etc...but when you break it down - a clueless half wit.

Spot on.

When I saw him acting like in a suit, my first reaction was that he must have had an earlier appointment at Swindon magistrates.

i know i shouldn't but i had another look on some of the pages on facebook set up regarding the murder.
it really has gone too far now.
there is a march planned for tonight around old town which i think it ott.the lantern thing was enough for people to pay their respects and done tastefully, but that doesn't seem enough for some.
a cctv petition as also sprung up although cctv was used to catch halliwell so again ott and not needed.
add to that the bitching between the different pages admins and the threats on the halliwell rot in hell page and it leaves a nasty taste imo.

the mother of the deceased has said she didn't like the violent scenes at court,so these idiots are not helping.
i was going to register on the groups to point the above out,but it would be pointless as the selfish idiots are all out for their own personal gain it seems and trying to out do each other.

I feel as angry towards Halliwell as much as the next man but those scenes outside the magistrates were just embarrassing. The majority of the people were just there to show off in front of the cameras. I'm sorry but did you see what them people looked like. Rough as fuck. And probably people who are not in the least concerned about what really happened but just wanting to get angry at someone. I thought it was a repulsive sight seeing grown men and women acting like that.

the person(s) behind RIP Sian O'callaghan seems to be going OTT. She seems to copy and paste a poem every day and tried to arrange a walk through Old Town, why exactly?

We've all helped a little bit for the family and Kevin need to grieve now and we cant help them with that.

Leave it be for now.

Which is what the person(s) behind the Help find Sian page have done, they arranged a fitting tribute and have now taken a step back.

Prison isnt good enough for Halliwell and would honestly raise a smile if the worst should happen to him.

The bit in bold says it all for me really.

Same person behind both isn't it or not?

reminds me a bit of that woman that said she was in the twin towers but never was, doing all the press conferences and stuff, all she was after was attention, sad really

Pretty certain it isnt.

I didn't join the RIP Sian or the "Swindons angel" group and now unfollowed the Twitter page
It's all got a bit much - i agree with DV it's time to start grieving & moving on now
I noticed all the flowers etc have gone from SUJU now - must be difficult disision but guess they have got a business to run
What's the need to walk through the town?? What will it achieve? Apart from maybe praise for the person that arranged it???

the family donated all the flowers to care homes.

Sian's mother has spoken to the adver.

There is nothing more any of us can do for them.

I quite agree

It's to celebrate her life and it's been organised by the boyfriends best mate as far as im lead to believe, I guess it's the sense of such a loss and they are more than likely looking at ways to help them come to terms and grieve etc.

Just had a quick shufty at the fb r.i.p page, oh dear what a fucking mess.

What could/should have been a simple online book of condolences as it were, has just become a gaggle of pre-pubescant girls trying to out do each other with their platitudes and respects, coupled with egotistical infighting, not to mention a very sad insight into the state of grammar in this day and age.

As arriba said, the lanterns was a fine and fitting tribute and it should have been left there...sadly not.

Are some of you not doing the same thing by continuing this thread by bitching about it?

As you have all said time to leave it.

nobody on here is bitching.
take your point though.

The lanterns were a fitting tribute, were....


Couldn't resist, sorry!

hHa! writing something like that re grammar, it was only a matter of time...

(but then you could argue that I was using the 'lanterns' to describe the event)

I take what DRS said about needing to move on from this thread, and agree.  But I am really interested in the discussion, not in the personal stuff about Sian and the other victim, and the perpetrator and his family, which does need to stop to allow those most deeply affected to deal with what they have to deal with, but rather in the phenomenon of public reaction to tragedy which has been developing very significantly over twenty years or more, and became particularly focussed in the reaction to Princess Diana's death.  In this case, of course, it has been both very negative violent stuff outside the court (which we see more and more in these high profile cases, but, as JFW I think said, not in 99% of murder cases) and in the outpouring of grief (which may be a legitimate expression of community fear), which then veers towards a quite mawkish and emotional over-reaction from people who are not, in a personal sense, affected by the tragedy.  Whatever Arriba (and others) may think about Christianity, even today many, many people still look to religious institutions to assist and support the grief process through ritual (whether or not they have any sort of faith). But I reckon that these OTT expressions of emotion may reflect something really quite important about the need for a ritual that genuinely allows the expression of what people are feeling deep down.  (Remember huge crowds used to gather for public executions, and other humiliations of criminals; and actually some of what people get from football crowds - especially where they become violent - may be expressing something of the 'pack instinct' of human beings.)  We readily see how easily crowds of people can be manipulated by 'charismatic' leaders, in political and religious contexts - and Twitter and Facebook maybe the modern way of doing that..... Is it OK?  Do we need these sorts of outlets for emotions? Or should we be more controlled, more rational about these big emotive issues and events?

Maybe a new thread could be started to continue this discussion to move it on from Sian's tragic story, but I would certainly be interested to read more of how people feel about this.

Another religion thread, huzzah

Actually, when's the last time we had one?

Absolutely not a religion thread..... I am not that bothered about what people think about religion.  I am bothered about what makes for healthy communities, and the way they/we deal with tragedy is a very important part of that.

Where have you been hiding??

Eh?? :(

Well, I don't see why you need to ask permission to start a threat anyway.

Even if it is about religion.

I was not asking permission, simply aware that for a lot of people on the thread the story of Sian has been a very painful one, and they want to move on from it, and whilst a general discussion may be very interesting for me it might actually be the wrong thing to start at the moment.  There are some things more important than threads about anything.

The thread was originally started about Donavan Van Lill anyway?
Court case is still ongoing for that one

Seems the other missing girl murdered and found near Eastleach was in fact another Swindon girl,young as well.

Another family who has been left in bits,at least they have some closure.

R.I.P.

Its sounded wierder and weirder as well.

The latest, not that  it's very informative...

http://www.wiltshire.police.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2905&catid=43:news&Itemid=50

I think it will be that Vietnamese immigrant that people assumed went to London to work :(

I said,it is a young girl from Swindon,was on the news earlier,the parents have been told.

Yeah defo - from reading all the updates looks like Suggys defence are speaking this week
Have you seen the sign up in the Olympiad reception?

No I havent (to busy for gym at the moment) what is it?

Just saying please don't upset the staff by asking them about the ongoing murder court case as they have all have been asked to give no comment!! Just what you wanna see when you walk in!

Fuck me some people must have little tact if they dont realise that!

Its is Nam?? :)

Remains confirmed as those of Becky Godden from Shaw missing since 2007... Name rings a bell but may be as it's on my doorstep. Anyone know her?

(2nd body in the Sian case I meant to say)

Went missing 8 years ago but was only reported missing in 2007. Makes me sick thinking that someone would have got away with it had they not done it again.

It does beg the question, why on earth did he mention it - he HAD gotten away with it.

Its all very odd.  Also, its odd she was reported missing so long after she disappeared - guess there were other circumstances.

Horrid none the less and really feel for her family.

guilt.

How can someone be missing for so long before it's reported? I'm assuming that no one had a clue where she went and people began to think that she just did a runner. Apparently there were people on the internet trying to find her whereabouts so they must have some reasoning as to why they thought she was still alive. Either way it's another sad story and thoughts are with the family.

According to the Guardian, she got in with the wrong crowd, drugs etc. and became disconnected from her family therefore they didn't necessarily have a reason to report her missing immediately.

In America it's called drifting,i drifted for a few years,my sis didn't know what i was doing,if i was alive or dead,when you dont have a lot of family or your family have given up on you it is easy to disappear...so there are thousands of people who could be listed as missing,but are not.

As i said at least the family can get on now knowing where she is,however hard that is going to be for them.

It's so sad to think some people go missing and arnt really missed by anyone
:(

Very sad.

Makes you wonder if there are any others. If he's killed someone once how likely is it that he waited 8-9 years before doing it again? At least he's inside now so he can't hurt anyone else.

Slipped up?

I'm beginning to wonder, perhaps hope, that there are no further victims.

Serial killers usually thrive on notoriety. That is how they get caught, they end up giving away clues because they can't stand the fact that people don't know the 'famous' killer is them.

But then, thinking of the wanted posters in his car makes me lose a bit of that hope.

Why hasn't facebook gone into meltdown yet?!

I work with the lady in questions step sister!

All very very close to home!!

Hmmmm so Suggys been found not guilty! The plot thickens
Oh well at least I don't know a murderer! :)

yeah I just heard.  It all seems very strange.  To be honest my missus was reading through all the reports last night and it just didnt seem there is enough to convict, no body, no dna evidence, just his ranting in a journal.

I guess the police just go on now and continue the investigation.  In the meantime, suggys life has been ruined really hasnt it.  I cant imagine him back at the olympiad teaching kids swimming.

Yeah His life is pretty much in tatters now!
Less so than prison maybe but?...

Small world, they're very good friends of mine.  Didn't even make the connection initially and then it all fell into place when their dad's name was mentioned in the paper and I recognised the picture of his wife (Becky's mum) on their wedding day.  They're finding it all quite difficult, which is hardly surprising.

I think you probably do know a murderer, just a very skilful one. Which is worse.