Police hunting missing Katie Kenyon think she’s ‘no longer alive’ as murder arrest made – Plainsmen Post

A man who was arrested on suspicion of the kidnap of a missing mum has been further arrested on suspicion of her murder, police said today.

Katie Kenyon, 33, has been missing from her home in Padiham, near Burnley, Lancashire, since the morning of April 22.

Lancashire Police said: “While Katie has not yet been found, and the search for her is continuing, detectives are now working on the basis that she is sadly no longer alive.”

A 50-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of kidnap on Saturday.

Police said a woman matching Katie’s description was seen getting into a silver Ford Transit van with a man, outside an address in Todmorden Road, Burnley, at around 9.30am on Friday.

The van, with the number plate MT57 FLC, is then believed to have traveled to Gisburn Forest near Bolton-by-Bowland area.

Police said the 50 year old man arrested on Saturday is known to the victim.

Katie is described as a white, 5ft9 female with strawberry blonde ginger hair.

She was last seen wearing a blue cardigan, light blue and white top, black leggings and flip flops.

Lancashire police had said on Sunday (April 24) that detectives were following a number of lines of inquiry to establish what had happened to Katie.

Detective Chief Inspector Al Davies said on Monday: “We continue to be extremely concerned about Katie and we have a large team who are working hard to try and find out what has happened to her.

“I am keeping an open mind about what has happened to her but my concern obviously grows as time goes by.”

But after today’s arrest/grim discovery, the case is now being treated as a murder investigation.

Katie’s sisters Jenny and Sarah had both been sharing updates and appeals to find her across social media over the weekend.

On Sunday they had urged people not to conduct their own searches or organize search parties for their sister, after police warned them it could tamper with vital evidence

After cops announced the case was now being treated as a murder investigation they said… Family reaction/tribute here.