Police trace final movements of teen girl, 17, and man, 18, before pair found ‘hanged’ in woods
POLICE are tracing the final movements of a teenage girl and a man who were found “hanged” in a nature reserve.
Cops were called to the Bothenhampton Reservoir in Dorset just after 10am on Tuesday.
Locals say a dog walker stumbled upon the tragic scene on Tuesday morning and raised the alarm.
The emergency services descended on the rural location but nothing could be done to save the male and female who were both in their late teens.
Now police are appealing to the public for information to help them piece together the pair’s final movements.
Detective Sergeant Simon Lee, of Dorset Police, said: “Our thoughts are with the families and friends of the two young people who tragically died.
“As is normal in these cases, we are now making enquiries on behalf of the coroner’s office to establish the circumstances of the deaths.
"Therefore, we are appealing for information from the public to help us piece together the two young people’s movements prior to their tragic deaths."
They are asking locals if anyone saw the 17-year-old girl and the 18-year-old man in the Bridport and West Bay area between Saturday January 22 and Tuesday January 25.
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Detective Lee continued: “The man is described as white, approximately five feet seven inches tall and of slim build with short dark hair, a short beard and brown eyes.
“He was wearing brown lace-up boots, light grey tracksuit bottoms, a dark coloured T-shirt and a dark navy hooded parka coat that had a brown patch on the left arm.
“The girl is described as white, approximately five feet five inches tall and of slim build with dark brown shoulder-length straight hair and brown eyes.
“She was wearing black and white trainers, light grey tracksuit bottoms, a dark navy Puffa-style jacket and a pink scarf.
“They may have been carrying a pale green Nike bag.
“Anyone who thinks they might be able to assist with our enquiries is asked to contact Dorset Police.”
The country lane leading to the beauty spot and an underground reservoir was cordoned off by police on Tuesday.
An ambulance, fire engine, and police cars filled the narrow lane until the early evening.
'DOUBLE HANGING'
Yesterday Paul Williams, who lives in one of the houses on the lane, told The Sun: "It was a double hanging in the nature reserve.
"The whole road was taped off. A dog walker found them. A police community support officer came here yesterday looking for CCTV but there isn't any."
Another man, who wished not to be named, added: "It's dreadful. Certainly not something you expect to happen on your doorstep.
"Police and an ambulance were here from 10am until 5pm. The fire engine had difficulty getting access (to the reserve)."
Another resident described the location where it happened as "beautiful and quiet".
He said: "It's quite worrying that something like that could happen here."
The identities of the teens have not yet been revealed but their families have been informed.
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Mayor of Bridport Ian Bark has now told of the shock that has hit the local area.
He said: “My sympathies go out to the friends and families of these young people.
“It’s very sad to hear that two people who are both so young have died.”
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Yesterday a spokeswoman from Dorset Police confirmed a mandatory referral had been made from Dorset Police relating to prior police contact with the two teenagers.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Dorset Police at , via email [email protected] or by calling 101, quoting occurrence number 55220014243.
