The police have now confirmed that the human remains found in a woodland in Kent are those of Sarah Everard.
Assistant Commissioner Nick Ephgrave confirmed the latest development in the investigation in a statement delivered outside New Scotland Yard.
He said: “As you know, on Wednesday evening detectives investigating the disappearance of Sarah Everard discovered a body secreted in in woodland in Kent. The body has now been recovered and formal identification procedure has now been undertaken.”
Last week (March 3), Ms Everard disappeared while walking home from a friend’s house in Clapham, south London.
The last known sighting of her in Clapham was captured on a doorbell camera which showed her walking alone along the A205 Poynders Road from the junction at Cavendish Road, toward Tulse Hill at around 9:30pm on Wednesday March 3rd.
Two days ago, police found a body in a woodland area in Ashford Kent which has now been confirmed to be Sarah Everard.
A man in his 40s – who is a serving Metropolitan Police officer – was arrested in Kent on Tuesday (March 9) on suspicion of kidnap in connection to Sarah’s disappearance, and was further arrested on suspicion of murder and a separate allegation of indecent exposure.
A woman in her 30s, who was at the same property as the officer in Kent, was also arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender.
Mr Ephgrave said the man remains in custody at a London police station.
He added: “I know that the public feel hurt and angry about what has happened, and those are sentiments that I share personally, and I know my colleagues here at Scotland Yard and across the Met share as well.
“I also recognise the wider concerns that have been raised, quite rightly, about the safety of women in public spaces in London and also elsewhere in the country.
“I want to say now that this organisation, and the men and women in it, remain committed to protecting Londoners wherever they are in this city.
“And that commitment is undiminished by these events and if anything that commitment is strengthened by these tragic circumstances.”