Woman in her 30s is arrested over murder of missing teenager, 17, even though her body has not been found – one day after arresting 50-year-old man
- Bernadette Walker, 17, was reported missing from Peterborough on July 21
- ‘No body’ murder investigation was declared on Friday after she failed to appear
- Teenager was missing for seven weeks after texting to say she’d be home soon
A woman in her 30s is the second person to be arrested over the murder of a missing 17-year-old girl, who vanished in July
Bernadette Walker’s parents reported her missing on July 21 after she had not been seen at her Peterborough home for three days.
Cambridgeshire Police launched a ‘no body’ murder investigation after extensive search operations found no sign of the teenager.
A 50-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of murder yesterday and remains in custody.
A woman in her 30s became the second person to be arrested, when police took her into custody on suspicion of murder on Saturday evening.
Bernadette Walker (pictured), 17, was reported missing from Peterborough on July 21 after she had not been seen for three days. Two people have now been arrested in connection after police launched a murder investigation
A ‘no body’ murder investigation was declared on Friday after all search operations failed, police from the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Major Crime Unit revealed. Pictured, Bernadette with her baby sister
DCI Jerry Waite said: ‘Due to the length of time Bernadette has been missing and concerns she may have come to some harm, we made the decision to declare this a murder investigation yesterday morning.
‘Whilst we hope we do find Bernadette alive and well, there is every possibility this may not be the case therefore my team and I will do everything possible to find out what has happened to her and bring any offenders to justice.’
Bernadette ran out of her car parents car on July 18, she contacted her family two days later, but was reported missing the following day.
Bernadette is described as medium build with half brown, half gingery blonde hair
In August Bernadette’s mother Sarah told PeterboroughMatters.com: ‘I can’t eat or sleep properly. I miss and love my eldest princess so much, she’s missing out on her baby sister, who has learned to smile and coo already.’
She revealed she hadn’t had any contact from her daughter since 1am on July 20, when Bernadette text her to say she was on her way home.
Bernadette hasn’t accessed social media since and no friends have heard from her.
Her family originally thought she may have taken spare clothes with her, but have since found the items under the schoolgirl’s bed.
Bernadette is described as medium build with half brown, half gingery blonde hair.
She has facial piercings and two homemade tattoos.
Anyone with information on Bernadette’s whereabouts or what has happened to her is urged to contact police either by using the online webchat function, or by calling 101 and quoting Operation Penshaw.