Body found in woodland on West Sussex border in search for missing teenager

Louise Smith, 16, from Havant, was last seen at midday on VE Day, May 8, in Somborne Drive, Leigh Park. Yesterday morning (May 21), officers searching for her found a body in Havant Thicket, near Rowlands Castle on the West Sussex border. Formal identification has not yet taken place, but Louise’s family have been informed and are being supported by specialist officers, police said. Hampshire Constabulary said it was treating the death as suspicious, and was continuing to investigate the circumstances. It comes after a man and a woman, both 29, were arrested on May 15 on suspicion of kidnap and were later released on bail until June 11. No further arrests have been made. Detective Chief Superintendent Scott Mackechnie said: “We know that news of this discovery will be very upsetting for the community, so I want to reassure you that we will be working around the clock to establish what has happened. “We will endeavour to provide you with further updates as soon as we can, but in the meantime we’re asking the community not to speculate on the circumstances, and instead provide all information to the police in the first instance, as this is crucial to helping our enquiries.” Anyone with information should call police on 101, quoting 44200163113, online, or by contacting the independent charity Crimestoppers 100% anonymously on 0800 555 111.