The heartbroken family of a missing Tameside woman who is believed to have been murdered say they want her home so they 'can lay her to rest'. Alisha Apostoloff-Boyarin was last seen in Ashton-under-Lyne in January and was reported missing the following month.
Greater Manchester Police believes Alisha had travelled to Durham back in January before returning to Greater Manchester. The force's missing person investigation has recently turned into a murder probe, with officers believing the 24-year-old may have been killed.
A 50-year-old man from Willington, County Durham, was arrested on suspicion of her murder earlier this month. Police arrested a second man - a 50-year-old from Ashton - last week on suspicion of assisting an offender.
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In a statement issued via GMP today (March 28), Alisha's family issued a desperate plea for information about her disappearance - admitting that they now believe their loved one has been killed. The statement said: "Alisha has not been seen for several weeks.
"She has made no contact with any of her family, which is unheard of. Alisha lived with her great-grandad, who she adored, and would never be away from home for this long.
"We know in our hearts that someone has prevented Alisha from coming home to us and that she is no longer alive. Alisha's world revolved around her family. She was a shy girl and did not socialise very much.
"She was only comfortable when she was at home. Not knowing where Alisha is, or what has happened to her, is torment and we cannot begin to describe the pain and anguish we feel at the moment.
"We just want Alisha home so we can lay her to rest and have some closure. We ask that anyone who has information as to where Alisha may be, or who is responsible for what has happened to her, to please contact the police."
Det Chf Supt Danny Inglis, of GMPs Major Incident Team, read the statement on behalf of Alisha's family in a video shared online. He also gave an update on the investigation and urged anyone in Greater Manchester or County Durham who may have details about her disappearance to come forward.
"It's been now almost two months since Alisha was last seen in her home town of Ashton-under-Lyne. Unfortunately, evidence has led us to believe that Alisha has come to serious harm and two arrests have been made." he said.
"GMP's main aim is to find Alisha and bring whoever is responsible for her disappearance to justice, and we need your help in doing this. Alisha is believed to have travelled from Ashton to County Durham and back again in January, so we have quite a large area to cover where Alisha may have been spotted by members of the public.
"I'd like to take this opportunity today to urge people, both in the Manchester and Durham areas, to think if they could have seen Alisha since January - or anyone who may have CCTV or dashcam footage showing Alisha. She regularly wears a long parka-style jacket with a hood and may have been wearing this when she went missing.
"If you have the slightest piece of information please do let us know as soon as possible, as you may hold the answer to where Alisha could be."
Anyone with information about Alisha's disappearance is being urged to come forward, using GMP's online portal here or by calling the major incident team on 0161 856 6777. Alternatively, use the LiveChat service on GMP's website or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
