Gaia Pope: Scores of mourners pay tribute to teenager at moving candlelit vigil

People take part in the candlelit vigil in the Prince Albert Gardens in Swanage, Dorset
PA
Patrick Grafton-Green25 November 2017

Scores of mourners paid tribute to Gaia Pope at a moving candlelit vigil a week after her body was found.

Grieving family members and friends paid their respects to the 19-year-old, whose disappearance in Dorset on November 7 sparked a massive search.

Her body was found 11 days later in a nearby field.

The Swanage amphitheatre was illuminated as people lit candles in memory of the teenager on Saturday evening.

A photo and floral tributes to Miss Pope, whose body was discovered last Saturday
PA

Many placed candles in glass jars near a floral tribute spelling GAIA below a framed picture of Miss Pope.

Some, including Miss Pope’s father, Richard Sutherland, addressed those gathered, who observed a minute's silence.

Miss Pope's disappearance sparked a massive search 
PA

Mr Sutherland said: "All that support you gave is tremendously heart-warming and something that at such a difficult time helps us very much.

"We will carry her memory for the rest of our lives."

Richard Sutherland, and Miss Pope's sister, Clara Pope-Sutherland
PA

Her body was found last Saturday on land south of Swanage, close to where some of her clothing was recovered.

Miss Pope, from Langton Matravers, Dorset, suffered from severe epilepsy.

People take part in the candlelit vigil in the Prince Albert Gardens in Swanage
PA

A post-mortem examination did not identify any injuries to suggest third party involvement and police said the death was being treated as unexplained.

Three people arrested in connection with her disappearance were released by police without any further action being taken.

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