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MYSTERY TEEN DEATH

Teenage girl, 16, found dead on Rotherham footpath had ‘gone to meet a man from a DATING site’ before her body was found

Police have refused to comment on pals' claims Leonne Weeks had gone to meet someone when she went missing

A TEENAGER whose body was found down a footpath in Yorkshire this morning had gone to meet up with a man she met on a DATING site before she went missing, friends have said.

Cops launched a major investigation earlier today after the body of 16-year-old girl Leonne Weeks was found down a footpath in "suspicious" circumstances.

The 16-year-old who was found dead in Rotherham has been named online as Leonne Weeks, pictured
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 The 16-year-old who was found dead in Rotherham has been named online as Leonne Weeks, pictured
Tributes were left at the scene of where Leonne's body was found
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Tributes were left at the scene of where Leonne's body was foundCredit: Guzelian
Cops have launched an investigation after her body was found in "suspicious" circumstances
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Cops have launched an investigation after her body was found in "suspicious" circumstancesCredit: SWNS

Detectives said the schoolgirl was found by members of the public on a footpath in the Dinnington area of the South Yorkshire town shortly before 11am this morning.

Friends of the 16-year-old chillingly confirmed Leonne "had gone to meet someone" before her body was discovered by a member of the public down an isolated pathway.

South Yorkshire cops had cordoned off two alleyways in Victoria Street this evening  - where 20 bouquets of flowers lay and paid tribute to the teen.

Police said Leonne was reported missing 20 minutes before her body was discovered
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Police said Leonne was reported missing 20 minutes before her body was discoveredCredit: Guzelian
Friends say Leonne had gone to meet a man she met on a dating site when she went missing
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Friends say Leonne had gone to meet a man she met on a dating site when she went missingCredit: SWNS

When contacted by The Sun Online South Yorkshire Police refused to say whether friends claims Leonne had gone to meet a man were linked to the "suspicious" circumstances of her death.

Social media users had earlier reported Leonne as missing and said her mum Paula Appley was “going out of her mind to try and find her.”

A number of posts were made asking if anyone had seen Leonne and if they had, to contact her mum.

Tributes have been made to the 16-year-old on Facebook following news of a body found earlier this morning.

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One user said: “Can't even get my head over this! Such a quiet nice lass! Wouldn't harm anybody and gets taken away at 16 years old with a while Life ahead of her r.i.p Leonne Weeks darling [sic]”.

Another user said: “Thinking of you all at this sad time Paula Appley sweet dreams to your princess xx.”

One card read: "To Leonne and family. Thinking about you, miss you so much. Sleep tight, fly high angel."

A young man in his 20's, who wished to remain anonymous and stood by the scene, said he was "deeply shocked" at the death of his friend.

Speaking about the discovery in the Dinnington area of Rotherham, South Yorks., he said: "I used to be neighbours with her and know her really well - she's a good mate of mine is Leonne.

"We don't know what's happened, all we know is she went to meet someone - meet a bloke [the man] - and now her body has been found."

Adding: "She met him off the internet - one of those dating sites."

Friends on social media had reported the teenager as missing since last night
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Friends on social media had reported the teenager as missing since last night
Tributes have been paid online to the tragic teenager, who is described as a "quiet, nice lass" by friends
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Tributes have been paid online to the tragic teenager, who is described as a "quiet, nice lass" by friends
Cops said the investigation is currently in its early stages
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Cops said the investigation is currently in its early stagesCredit: Guzelian

Asked if he knew how Leonne had died, he added: "I don't know - all I know is the pathway is just a dead end and backs onto a few allotments down there."

Another one of Leonne's friends who wanted to pay tribute, said: "She was just absolutely sound, always up for a laugh.

"She was one of the funniest people I've ever met - she was lovely."

Adding: "It's just so shocking - I can't believe it, I never thought something like this would happen."

Cops said this evening that Leonne had been reported missing 20 minutes before her body was found.

Police are treating the death as suspicious due to ";concerns around the state of the body and the injuries."

Superintendent Sarah Poolman said: “The investigation is in its very early stages however we are treating the death as suspicious.

“To provide reassurance to the local community and wider general public, additional police patrols are in place and will continue over the coming days.

Her body was discovered on a path off Lordens Hill (file picture) in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, by members of the public this morning
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Her body was discovered on a path off Lordens Hill (file picture) in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, by members of the public this morningCredit: Google Streetview
Flowers have been left at the scene for the teenager
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Flowers have been left at the scene for the teenagerCredit: Guzelian
One friend posted online: “Can't even get my head over this! Such a quiet nice lass! Wouldn't harm anybody and gets taken away at 16 years old with a while Life ahead of her r.i.p Leonne Weeks darling [sic]”
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One friend posted online: “Can't even get my head over this! Such a quiet nice lass! Wouldn't harm anybody and gets taken away at 16 years old with a while Life ahead of her r.i.p Leonne Weeks darling [sic]”Credit: Guzelian

“I would urge anyone who believes they have information about the incident to please come forward.”

Kevin Barron MP for the Rother Valley tweeted: "I am incredibly sad to hear about the discovery of a teenage girl's body in Dinnington near my constituency office this morning.

"I would like to send my condolences to the family and friends of this young girl. We must now allow the police time to investigate."

South Yorkshire Police are asking anyone with information to call on 101 quoting incident number 256 of 16 January 2017.

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