A body found in a Lancashire forest has been identified as missing 33-year-old Katie Kenyon, police have confirmed.
Lancashire constabulary said a postmortem examination found that she had died as a result of head injuries.
Officers said a body was found on Friday night in the Forest of Bowland. They had been searching after receiving new information about where the mother of two from Padiham, near Burnley, could be.
On Sunday afternoon, the force tweeted: “We can now sadly confirm that the body found in the Forest of Bowland is that of Katie Kenyon.
“We found Katie on Friday following extensive searches and she has now been formally identified as the missing Padiham mum, 33.
“A Home Office postmortem examination was conducted yesterday and the cause of death was given as head injuries.
“Our thoughts remain with Katie’s family and loved ones at this difficult time. The family continues to be supported by our specially trained officers.”
Kenyon was last seen at about 9.30am on Friday 22 April, when it is thought she travelled in a silver Ford Transit van that left Burnley towards the Bolton-by-Bowland area of Lancashire.
Andrew Burfield, 50, was charged on Wednesday with her murder. He appeared via video link at Preston crown court on Friday, and spoke only to confirm his identity during the seven-minute hearing.
Burfield, of Todmorden Road, Burnley, was remanded in custody with a trial set to begin on 14 November.
On Saturday afternoon, Det Supt Gary Brooks, the head of the Lancashire constabulary major investigation unit, said: “I would like to thank the public and the media for all the help they have given us during what has been a protracted, complex and very emotive search, and I would also like to thank both the partner agencies and all of the police officers and staff who have been involved in the search for Katie.
“While this is not the conclusion to those searches any of us would have wished for, I know the family appreciate those efforts.”
