Katie Kenyon
(Picture: Lancashire Constabulary)The sister of missing Katie Kenyon has issued a heartbreaking plea for people to not say “rest in peace” as the search to find her enters its sixth day.
The 33-year-old has been missing from her home in Padiham near Burnley, Lancashire, since Friday morning but police said on Tuesday her disappearance is now being treated as murder with only a “slim hope” she is alive.
A 50-year-old man from Burnley, who was being questioned on suspicion of kidnap, was further arrested on suspicion of murder. He is said to be known to Katie.
On Wednesday, Ms Kenyon’s sister Sarah issued a heartbreaking plea on social media for people to stop saying “rest in peace”.
“Can me and my family please ask people to STOP saying rest in peace!” she said.
“They have not found a body! They have not charged him with murder! They have arrested him on suspicion of murder!
“WE ARE STILL SEARCHING for our Katie! She’s out there somewhere and we still need people to come forward with ANY information, big or small! This is absolutely heartbreaking for us.”
More than 60 specialist search officers from four police forces are scouring a rural beauty spot in Lancashire for her.
The search for the missing woman, involving search dogs and a plane, is focused on the dense Gisburn Forest in the Ribble Valley, said to be the largest wooded area in the county.
Officers from the Lancashire, Greater Manchester, Merseyside and North Wales police forces are combing the area, assisted by Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service and the Bowland Pennine Mountain Rescue Team.
A woman matching Ms Kenyon’s description left an address on Todmorden Road in Burnley around 9.30am Friday with a man and travelled in a silver Ford Transit, registration MT57 FLC, to the Bolton-by-Bowland area of north Lancashire.
She has not been seen since.
On Tuesday, Det Supt Gary Brooks, Lancashire Police’s head of major crime, said: “While I hold some slim hope that Katie may still be found alive I’m sad to say that Katie has now been missing for over four days.
“Despite extensive police enquiries and media appeals we have not found Katie nor have there been any sightings of Katie.”
Police previously issued a photograph of the silver Transit van - found in Burnley - and they are continuing to appeal for anyone who saw the vehicle, or has dashcam footage, to come forward.
Ms Kenyon is described as white, 5ft 9in, with shoulder-length strawberry blonde/ginger hair.
She was last seen wearing a blue shirt or jacket and white vest top, black leggings and flip flops.
Anyone with information should call police on 101 quoting log 800 of April 24 or you can contact them through the Major Incident Public Portal at https://mipp.police.uk/operation/0401020119P01-PO1.
Alternatively, contact independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
