Murder charge over teenager as body found

Police were yesterday searching an area off the Nant-y-Garth pass near Wrexham, in North Wales, where they found the body of a young woman.

Jamie Reynolds, who was initially arrested in Glasgow on Tuesday, will appear before magistrates in Telford, Shropshire, today.

At a Press conference last night, Superintendent Nav Malik of West Mercia Police said the body had not been positively identified but early indications suggested it was linked to 17-year-old Georgia’s disappearance.

The teenager, from Wellington, in Shropshire, was last seen on Sunday evening when she told her parents she was going to see friends.

“Within the last hour, following liaison with the Crown Prosecution Service, we have charged 22-year-old Jamie Reynolds with the murder of Georgia Williams,” Supt Malik said. “For obvious legal reasons, I am not in a position to talk to you about that, to ensure a fair court outcome in due course.

“Sadly, yesterday afternoon, new evidence came to light which identified that Georgia had in fact died at an address in Wellington, in Telford here, and clearly that information has led us to where we are today.

“I can also confirm this afternoon the body of a female, a young female, has been found in woodland in the pass near Nant-y-Garth in Wrexham, North Wales. At this moment in time we haven’t identified that body, but early indications do suggest it’s linked to the disappearance of Georgia Williams.”

Reynolds, also from Wellington, was arrested at a budget hotel in Glasgow for the alleged kidnap of the teenager and was further arrested on suspicion of murder on Thursday.

Officers had searched woodland and an area in a nature reserve in Shropshire and yesterday turned their focus to North Wales.

Superintendent Malik said police had been liaising closely with Georgia’s family, “who are naturally devastated by the events of yesterday afternoon and late this afternoon as well”.

He said all investigations were challenging. “This has proved particularly challenging given that colleagues are working relentlessly, but also that one of the colleagues, Georgia’s father, is a police officer within this organisation here, and it’s been emotional for them.

“Whenever someone from a police family is involved, it is particularly distressing, clearly.”

He thanked the investigation team, the Crown Prosecution Service, and policing partners for their support, as well as the public and press.

Earlier, friends of Georgia spoke of their hope of her safe return as they leafleted people in her home town to raise awareness.

Katy Lafferty, who was Georgia’s best friend and helped organise the leaflet drop, said her disappearance was “heart-breaking”.

Asked how she was coping she added: “It’s difficult but you’ve got to believe in her and get through. You’ve got to believe that she’s somewhere and is going to come back.”

She said she had spoken with Georgia’s mother and father – a serving detective constable with West Mercia Police – and said they were “just getting through it – how else can you be?”

Liam Ball who goes to New College in Telford, where Georgia attended lectures, described his friend as “friendly, bubbly and lovely”.

The 18-year-old, of Shifnal, added: “She is everything you could want in a friend.”