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21st Oct 2022

Leah Croucher: Police find body of teen missing since 2019

Kat O'Connor

Harrowing news.

Police have found the body of missing teenager Leah Croucher, three years after she vanished.

The 19-year-old went missing on February 15th, 2019.

Leah left her home in Emerson Valley at 8 am. She then began the two-mile walk to her job, but never showed up.

Her parents reported their daughter missing later that evening.

A missing person’s investigation was launched, but police didn’t make a breakthrough until three years after Leah vanished.

Multiple people came forward claiming they saw Leah, but the sightings were never confirmed by police.

Last week, the remains of a female were discovered in an abandoned home in Furzton, Milton Keynes.

Police identified the deceased as 19-year-old Leah Croucher.

They fear Leah was held captive by convicted sex offender Neil Maxwell in 2019.

They identified Maxwell as their prime suspect, but he died by suicide in April 2019.

The house where Leah’s body was discovered was just 0.4 miles from where she was last seen.

Before his death, police attempted to arrest Maxwell 18 times.

Thames Valley Police issued a statement following the discovery of Leah’s body;

“The thoughts of all of us at Thames Valley Police remain and will always be with Leah’s family and friends.

“The entirety of our investigation keeps them uppermost in our minds, and they continue to be supported by specially trained officers and updated on every development.

“The body found in Loxbeare Drive last week is that of Leah.”

“Our investigations into Leah’s murder will leave no stone unturned.”

“We owe it to Leah’s family to ensure we find the truth.”

Feature: Thames Valley Police