MURDER cops are now leading the investigation into the disappearance of a 33-year-old woman who vanished as she walked home.
Sarah Everard has not been seen since she left a friend's house in Clapham, South West London, on Wednesday at around 9pm.
Police have been searching ponds in Clapham Common in a bid to find the missing marketing manager, who should have arrived back home in Bristol shortly before 10pm.
Detectives from the Met's Specialist Crime Command, which deal with homicides and major crime for the force, have now taken over the investigation.
The Met said Sarah's disappearance is still being treated as a missing person's case.
They also said she was last seen on CCTV at around 9.30pm on Poynder's Road heading in the direction of Tulse Hill.
Detective Chief Inspector Katherine Goodwin said: "I would like to stress that there is no information at this stage to suggest anything untoward may have happened to Sarah.
"The focus remains on returning her home to her family safe and well and that is our number one priority.
"I would like to thank Sarah's family and friends, the local community and members of the public for their help to raise awareness of this appeal and for coming forward with information.
"I would urge anybody who has information or noticed any suspicious activity in the area to contact us if you haven't already. "
Sarah's family earlier revealed their anguish over the "out-of-character" disappearance.
Aunt Jane Everard, of Bolton, Lancs, told The Sun: "We’re devastated. It is so out of character for her.
“She has a very big circle of friends from Durham, where she was at university and down in London. It has been a real shock. We are all so worried.”
Sarah's uncle Doug revealed the family, who are from York, are now in London as the search continues.
He said Sarah moved to the capital for work around 12 years ago and has a brother and sister who also live in London.
Doug said: “She is lovely, a really lovely young lady, very sensible.
“The police are keeping my brother informed and we are on the end of a phone.
“It is a really tough time. They are devastated and they are desperate to find out anything they can.
“None of us really know anything.
“They have always been a very very close family. Sarah, her parents and her sister and brother, they are all in touch on a regular basis.”
On Wednesday night, Sarah left a friend's house in Leathwaite Road in Clapham about 9pm.
She headed through a back gate onto the A205 South Circular before she is believed to have walked across Clapham Common.
The marketing manager had spoken to her partner on the phone for about 15 minutes, and has not been heard from since that point, according to her friend Rose Woollard.
Police say it is not clear if she made it back to her home in nearby Brixton.
Doug said: “We are devastated. We just want to get her back. We just don’t know where she is.
“She was in touch with her boyfriend on a call and that is the last contact.
“She’s a really bright young girl and we are desperate to find out anything we can. We are sharing as much as we can on social media, really just hoping to hear something.”
Clues to find Sarah
Officers are also asking people in the following areas to check doorbell or dashcam footage for any sightings of Sarah:
- The A205 South Circular around Clapham Common
- Cavendish Road
- New Park Road
- Brixton Hill
- Brixton Water Lane
The map shows a possible route Sarah would have followed
The plea comes as police yesterday ramped up the hunt for missing Sarah.
Officers were seen wading through ponds in Clapham Common and searching bins.
Her family said: "With every day that goes by we are getting more worried about Sarah.
"She is always in regular contact with us and with her friends and it is totally out of character for her to disappear like this. We long to see her and want nothing more than for her to be found safe and well.
"We are so grateful to the police and all our friends for all they are doing. We are desperate for news and if anyone knows anything about what has happened to her, we would urge you to please come forward and speak to the police.
"No piece of information is too insignificant."
Sarah’s sister, Katie, added on Facebook: “No words. Please share and contact me if you hear anything.”
Sarah was last seen wearing a green rain jacket, navy blue trousers with a white diamond pattern and turquoise and orange trainers.
She was also thought to have been wearing green earphones and a white beanie hat.
Detective Chief Inspector Ian Kenward, from the Central South Public Protection Team, said: "Sarah's disappearance is completely out of character and understandably her family and friends are incredibly worried.
"We are also growing increasingly concerned for her welfare and have officers working round the clock to try and find her.
"I would ask anybody who was in the Clapham Common area on Wednesday night to think about whether you saw Sarah or any suspicious activity around the time of her disappearance."
Specialist officers and volunteers from London Search and Rescue are carrying out searches in the area of Clapham Common and the walking route between Clapham and Brixton.
Anyone with information is asked to call 101 quoting CAD 3309/06MAR.
Information can also be provided anonymously by calling the Missing People charity on 116 000.
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