Sisters of Gaia Pope: ‘We felt helpless. She felt she wasn’t listened to’

Gaia Pope’s twin sister, Maya Pope Sutherland, right, and older sister Clara. The family told police where to search for Gaia but ‘they actively ignored us’. Photograph: Millie Pilkington/The Guardian

The wonderful memories of Gaia Pope come easily and vividly to her twin, Maya Pope-Sutherland, and older sister Clara Pope-Sutherland.

“We never spent a moment apart when we were younger, we were so close, we had a real bond,” Maya, 24, told the Guardian. “There was a spirituality about Gaia. Her name means ‘Mother Earth’ and she felt a connection with the trees, the sky, animals. She was altruistic and caring, a great listener.”