Joy Morgan: Body found in woods confirmed as missing student

Shohfah-El Israel refused to reveal location of body

Joy Morgan was a student at the University of Hertfordshire (Hertfordshire Police/PA)

Human remains found in a woodland are those of a murdered student midwife, police have confirmed.

Joy Morgan, 20, was killed by a fellow worshipper at her London church group in December.

Shohfah-El Israel was jailed for 17 years in August and the judge noted his “cruel and cowardly silence” about his victim’s “final resting place”.

A member of the public discovered Ms Morgan’s remains in woodland near Stevenage on 5 October, hidden in a woodland off Chadwell Road, just outside an area previously searched by officers, Hertfordshire Police said.

A post-mortem conducted on Tuesday could not establish a cause of death and further tests have been scheduled, the force added.

Ms Morgan’s mother, Carol Morgan, said: “Joy was so beautiful and completely lived up to her name – she brought joy to all our lives.

“Our family has been living a nightmare and we miss her so, so much. Joy was studying to be a midwife and would have graduated by now.

“I know she would have been amazing as a midwife. I was so proud of her and I always will be. She was our star.”

Detective Chief Inspector Justine Jenkins said: “My thoughts are with Joy’s family at this difficult time and while nothing can end their pain, I hope that this gives them closure and I am glad that they will now have the opportunity to say goodbye to Joy.”

Israel, whose birth name is Ajibola Shogbamimu, spent time along with Ms Morgan, against strict church rules, before he killed her.

The married father then tried to cover his tracks by removing the University of Hertfordshire student’s number from a church group chat to make it appear she had left the close-knit religious group.

The 40-year-old even kept up the pretence by going to her student house share under the guise of checking on her in the days after she apparently went missing.