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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
World
Barney Davis

Chloe Mitchell: man charged with murder of 21-year-old who went missing earlier this month

A man has been charged with the murder of Chloe Mitchell, 21, who went missing in Northern Ireland earlier this month.

A huge search operation was launched after Ms Mitchell vanished in the early hours of Saturday June 3 from Ballymena town centre in Co Antrim.

Brandon John Rainey, 26, of James Street in Ballymena, appeared in court in Co Antrim charged with murder.

He was remanded in custody until July 6.

A second man, 34, is due to appear at Ballymena Magistrates’ Court charged with assisting an offender.

Ms Mitchell was last seen on CCTV in the early hours of Saturday June 3 in Ballymena town centre.

Detectives investigating Ms Mitchell’s disappearance launched a murder inquiry on Sunday after suspected human remains were found in the town.

Community Rescue Service volunteers in thick undergrowth near the River Braid in Ballymena (Liam McBurney/PA) (PA Wire)

DCI Richard Millar said: “Sadly today detectives have recovered suspected human remains in Ballymena, and while there has been no formal identification, we have now launched a murder enquiry into the circumstances surrounding the disappearance of 21-year-old Chloe Mitchell, who was a high risk missing person.

“Earlier this week we launched a criminal investigation into Chloe’s disappearance. Tragically, we now have reason to believe that Chloe was murdered.

“Our thoughts this evening are very much with Chloe’s family and we have specialist officers providing them with support at this heart-breaking time.

“I would like to thank the community in Ballymena and the Search and Rescue teams for their help in trying to find Chloe.”

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