An extensive police search for the missing teen became a murder investigation, with a body found by police late last night.
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A body, which Leicestershire Police said earlier on Thursday they believed to be Kayleigh’s, was pulled from undergrowth near a lake in Ibstock on Wednesday.
She was dropped off outside Ibstock Community College and had called her family the following morning, but there has been no trace of her since then.
Detective Chief Superintendent David Sandall, head of crime at Leicestershire Police, said: ‘We have a dedicated team of officers carrying out enquiries to try and locate Kayleigh.
A second man, Luke Harlow, 27, also of Ibstock, has been charged with grooming and two counts of sexual activity with a child.
“As inquiries have been completed we have become increasingly concerned that she may have come to harm and today we have told the family that we are treating her disappearance as a murder inquiry”.
The 15-year-old schoolgirl had not been seen since her family dropped her off at school on Friday.
Kyle Haywood said he is “terrified” for his sister and that his family is clinging to “hope” that she will be found.
The body was found in a field not far from Kayleigh’s home.
Reverend Linda Cox, from the church, said: “It was a very sombre atmosphere in there, but it was also a very supporting and loving atmosphere for each other and particularly for Kayleigh’s family”.
‘We need to understand where she went and what has happened to her’.
She reportedly made contact with her parents the next morning but she has not been seen or heard from since Saturday.
“We have searched several locations including Sence Valley Forest Park in the Ibstock area looking for her. This is a considerable expanse of land”. Detectives confirm that the two men already arrested over her kidnap have been re-arrested on suspicion of murder.
Mr Haywood, 18, broke down as he appealed for the public to help.
‘She was a bright, bubbly girl, a typical teenager.
Michelle Tracey Simpson added “Kayleigh we want u home babe pls there is nothing that we can not”.
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One unnamed friend told the Daily Mail that Kayleigh might have met up with a 27-year-old man she had been messaging on Facebook.
