Tributes to Gaia Pope

Police say they are confident a body found near Swanage on Saturday is 19-year-old Gaia, who had been missing since November 7.

Touching tributes to Gaia continue to be left next to the Alfred Monument on Swanage seafront.

One card read: “We are a community in shock, such a tragic and sad loss. You will always be remembered and heartfelt thoughts are with your family at such a devastating time.”

Photographs of Gaia had also been posted on the seafront memorial, alongside messages of condolence weighted down with pebbles from the beach.

At Swanage’s St Mary’s Church, where prayers were said for the friends and family of Gaia on Sunday evening, residents were invited to light a candle in her memory.

The Very Reverend John Mann, team rector of Swanage and Studland, said: “The tragedy of Gaia’s disappearance and death have been felt deeply across the community, because it is a community that cares.

“On Sunday, after we had heard that Gaia’s body had been discovered the previous evening, people gathered from across Swanage to sit quietly and reflect and pray in St Mary’s Church. We lit candles, and I know that other people across Swanage were putting candles in the windows of their houses.

“Symbolically, this community is seeking to show that it can offer some light even in the darkness of sorrow, as it reaches out in love and concern to Gaia’s family in their loss.”

Rev Mann also said that over eleven days of living with the unknown, the people of Swanage showed what it meant to come together.

He added: “Those who searched for Gaia did so in their hundreds. Everyone was hoping that she would be found alive.

“When we knew that that was not to be, the sadness was also shared; it was palpable, with deep sympathy being expressed for all who love Gaia and are devastated that she is no longer with us.”

Members of the public also shared their condolences with Gaia’s family via the Find Gaia Facebook group which attracted more than 11,800 members.

Gaia’s twin sister Maya spoke of her heartbreak and vowed to “make her so proud”.

Writing on Facebook she said: “Can’t find any words right now. Gaia is my everything and I am heartbroken. I thank everyone who was involved in searching for my beautiful twin. Going to make her so proud.”

The twins’ cousin, Marienna Pope-Weidemann, also paid tribute, saying: “We hold you in our hearts forever.”

It comes as three people arrested in connection with the disappearance of Gaia have been released from police investigation without any further action.

Specialist search teams discovered the body of a woman near Swanage on Saturday close to where items of Gaia’s clothing had been found on Thursday.

Although the body has yet to be formally identified, police are confident that it is Gaia.

A post-mortem examination did not identify any injuries to suggest any other person was involved in her death. The cause of death is undetermined pending toxicology results.

Detective Superintendent Paul Kessell, of Dorset Police’s Major Crime Investigation Team, said yesterday: “Following the results of the post-mortem examination and other ongoing investigative enquiries, we have concluded that no one else was involved in Gaia’s death.

“As such we have released from our investigation two men aged 19 and 49 and a 71-year-old woman, all from Swanage, who had been arrested and were assisting with our enquiries.”

He added: “I appreciate our enquiries would have caused these individuals stress and anxiety, however we have an obligation in any missing person investigation to explore every possible line of enquiry.

“The public would expect Dorset Police to fully investigate the sudden disappearance of a teenage girl. Our aim was not only to find Gaia but to find out what happened to her.

“Gaia’s family has been informed of this latest development and our thoughts remain with all her family and friends at this incredibly difficult time.”

Gaia, who suffered from severe epilepsy, had not been seen for 11 days and her disappearance prompted a massive campaign from family and friends to find her.

Hundreds joined a public search in the Durlston Country park area on Saturday, the day her body was found by specialist search teams.