A murder probe has been launched after the body of a “beautiful, talented” schoolgirl was found in the back of a crashed car.
Megan Bannister, 16, was found dead in the back seat of a black Vauxhall Astra after the vehicle hit a motorbike in Leicestershire at around 11.45am on Sunday.
Police launched a murder investigation on Monday after a post-mortem revealed the teenager’s death had not been caused by the smash.
Megan’s family paid tribute to their “talented and loving daughter and sister” and said their hearts had been “utterly broken by her death”.
They said in a statement: “The thought of life without Megan is impossible to imagine, and we cannot adequately express in words the sense of numbness and overwhelming grief we feel at her loss.
“She was bright, clever, and a responsible person who loved her family and her many friends.
“She had a strong self-will and had set her heart on training to becoming a midwife. Knowing how confident and determined she was, we have no doubt she would have realised that dream.”
The post-mortem was inconclusive and further tests are being conducted to find out exactly how Megan died.
Two men from Leicester, aged 27 and 28 have been arrested on suspicion of murder and are being held by police.
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