John and Claire Croucher visited the property where their daughters belongings were found (Picture: PA)
The parents of missing teenager Leah Croucher said their ‘darkest fears have come true’ as they visited the house where police investigating her disappearance found human remains.
John and Claire Croucher, along with their daughter Jade, were driven in a police vehicle to the property at Loxbeare Drive in Furzton, Milton Keynes, just before 8pm on Thursday.
They left a message to their daughter, who vanished while walking to work in February 2019, reading: ‘To our darling Leah, our darkest fears have come true, we only need to be apart a little longer.
‘We have so missed you for so long already. The future looks so bleak now we know we will never see your smile or hear your laughter again.
‘We will cherish your memories forever. We love you. Mum and Dad xxxx’
They also left a bouquet with a note from Ms Croucher’s ‘big sister and nephew Reggie’, reading: ‘To my beautiful sister Leah.
‘My heart has broken, my mind racing with thoughts and my body numb.
Ms Croucher’s parents said they will ‘cherish her memories forever’ (Picture: w8media)
Her parents and sister look at flowers outside a property in Loxbeare Drive, Furzton, Milton Keynes, where police have identified human remains (Picture: PA)
Ms Croucher was last seen on CCTV in Buzzacott Lane, Furzton, just after 8.15am on February 15, 2019 (Picture: PA)
An aerial view of the scene in Loxbeare Drive (Picture: PA)
A teddy bear and a message left at the scene (Picture: PA)
‘How can a life as beautiful as yours come to an end in such a tragic way. I have loved you from your first breath, and I will love you until my last.
‘There has never been a moment where you were not in my thoughts and there never will be. My only comfort now is that you and Haydon are together in heaven. All my love forever.’
A handwritten message signed ‘Nan and Grandad’ also read: ‘Our darling, we will never stop seeking answers.
‘Will love and miss you always.’
Ms Croucher was last seen on CCTV in Buzzacott Lane, Furzton, just after 8.15am on February 15, 2019, walking in the direction of Loxbeare Drive and Chaffron Way.
Police and forensics officers at a black tent that has been erected at the scene (Picture: PA)
Women place flowers outside (Picture: PA)
Passers by look at flowers left at the scene (Picture: PA)
A message left on a bunch of flowers (Picture: PA)
A tip-off from a member of the public on Monday led detectives to the property where ‘items of concern’ were found.
Police began searching the house and launched a murder inquiry when they found a rucksack and other personal belongings of Ms Croucher.
A police spokesman said: ‘Monday was the first time we were alerted to this property by a member of the public in connection with this investigation.
‘However, as an address in Furzton, the address was visited as part of our house-to-house inquiries as part of the investigation, during which we visited more than 4,000 addresses.
‘There was no response at the property and as such leaflets would have been dropped through the letterbox.’
The Times reports that a convicted paedophile who once lived at the property has been ruled out as a suspect because he was still in prison at the time of the teenager’s disappearance.
Police guarding the scene (Picture: PA)
Forensics experts have been scouring the property where detectives, who have launched a murder inquiry, have also found some of Ms Croucher’s possessions.
Blue tarpaulins could be seen in the back garden of the house where investigators had erected tall black screens and a police tent in the front driveway, blocking the view from the street.
Detective Chief Superintendent Ian Hunter said: ‘We are dealing with a very difficult scene but we can now confirm that we have discovered a number of items that are linked to Leah, and as such we have now launched a murder investigation, led by our Major Crime Unit.’
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‘We will cherish your memories forever. We love you. Mum and Dad xxxx’