Body found in woods as search ends for missing 50-year-old Fay
Police say the remains are believed to be Fay; identification pending; death treated as unexplained but not suspicious
Police have found a body in the Lucas Wood area of High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, amid the search for Fay, a 50-year-old woman who disappeared on Friday, September 12, triggering an extensive search operation across the area.
Fay was last seen walking down Totteridge Road at 10:41 a.m. on the day she vanished. Police released CCTV footage showing her wearing a grey top with a black cardigan, black trousers and black boots, and carrying a grey and cream colored bag. Authorities later located her car abandoned on Hillary Road, less than a mile away, and investigators believe she was travelling on foot at the time. Thames Valley Police and volunteers from Buckinghamshire Lowland Search & Rescue conducted searches in the surrounding countryside as part of the effort. Inspector Hayley McEvoy, based at High Wycombe police station, said the force was extremely concerned for Fay’s welfare.
The body was located in the Lucas Wood area after searches carried out by Thames Valley Police and Buckinghamshire Lowland Search & Rescue. While officers await formal identification, the force has told Fay’s relatives and they are being supported by specialist teams. The death is being treated as unexplained, but not suspicious, and a file will be prepared for the Coroner.
Relatives have been informed and are receiving support from investigators and specialist liaison officers. Police have said the investigation will continue to determine the circumstances surrounding Fay’s disappearance and the discovery of the body, with the Coroner’s process expected to determine the exact cause and timeline. No additional details about the circumstances are being released at this time to protect the integrity of the inquiry.
Inquiries into Fay’s movements on the day she disappeared, including the route down Totteridge Road and the abandoned car on Hillary Road, are likely to be reviewed as part of the coroner’s proceeding. The community around High Wycombe has been urged to contact police if they recall any sightings or information related to Fay between the time she was last seen and the days that followed.