Katie Kenyon: Body found in search for missing mother-of-two

Officers make discovery in Forest of Bowland in Lancashire after receiving new information

Police have found a body believed to be that of missing mother-of-two Katie Kenyon after receiving new information (Lancashire Constabulary)

A body has been found in the search for missing mother-of-two Katie Kenyon.

The 33-year-old has been missing for more than a week after getting into a silver Ford transit van with a man in Burnley at about 9.30pm on 22 April.

Lancashire Constabulary confirmed the body of a woman believed to be that of Ms Kenyon had been found in an area of the Forest of Bowland on Friday following days of searching.

“We can sadly confirm that our officers searching for missing Katie Kenyon have found the body of a woman,” a police spokesperson said. “Our officers made the discovery last night, Friday 29 April, in an area of the Forest of Bowland after receiving new information about a location where Katie could be.”

The force said the identity of the body is yet to be formally confirmed and a post-mortem examination is being carried out to establish the cause of death.

“Following extensive police inquiries and after a number of days of searching, I can now sadly confirm that we have found a body and at this time we believe it to be that of Katie Kenyon,” Detective Superintendent Gary Brooks, head of Lancashire Police’s major investigation unit said. “Katie’s family have been told and my heart goes out to them at this time. We have specially trained officers supporting them at this difficult time.”

He added: “While this is not the conclusion to those searches any of us would have wished for, I know the family appreciate those efforts.” Her ex-boyfriend Andrew Burfield, 50, appeared by video-link from HMP Preston for a brief court hearing charged with the murder of Ms Kenyon on Friday.

Andrew Burfield, 50, from Burnley, appeared at Preston Crown Court charged with the murder of missing mother-of-two Katie Kenyon (Elizabeth Cook/PA)

The defendant, of Todmorden Road, Burnley, spoke only to confirm his identity during the seven-minute hearing at Preston Crown Court. He was remanded in custody and a trial date was set for 14 November.

Earlier this week, police, mountain rescue teams and fire crews combined efforts to comb parts of Gisburn Forest in Lancashire’s Ribble Valley.

Police also previously issued a photograph of the silver transit van as they appealed for anyone who saw the vehicle, or has dashcam footage, to come forward.