Body found in New Forest by police investigating disappearance of woman
Yajaira Castro Mendez, 46, was reported missing to the Metropolitan Police on May 31 having left her home in Ilford on the morning of May 29.
Her family has been told about the discovery of the body, which was found during searches in Hampshire's Bolderwood area on Saturday, but formal identification has yet to be made.
Detective Inspector Jay Gregory, who is leading the investigation, said: 'This is a very sad development in the investigation and our thoughts are very much with Yajaira's family and friends at this incredibly difficult time.
'We continue to appeal to anyone with information that could assist the investigation to please come forward.'
A post-mortem examination has yet to take place.
The police said a man who was known to Ms Castro Mendez appeared in court on Friday charged with her murder and was remanded into custody.
Her disappearance was initially treated as a missing person investigation led by local officers.
The investigation was then transferred to the Met's Specialist Crime Command on June 5, after a range of extensive further inquiries suggested she had come to harm.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Reuters
31 minutes ago
- Reuters
Man arrested at US Treasury building after climbing gate, agency says
July 27 (Reuters) - The U.S. Secret Service arrested a man after he climbed a gate at the U.S. Treasury building in Washington on Sunday at about 2:30 p.m., the agency said in statement. Traffic in the area was blocked off as Washington's Metropolitan Police Department's bomb squad, 'out of an abundance of caution,' examined a bag the man had left on the sidewalk outside the fence, according to the statement from a Secret Service spokesperson. It was not an explosive device, the spokesperson added. The Treasury building is located next to the White House on Pennsylvania Avenue. No Secret Service protectees were at the White House at the time, the statement said. The suspect was charged with unlawful entry and in connection with an outstanding warrant and was taken to a local hospital for a medical evaluation, according to the statement.


Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Bomb squad deployed after suspicious package discovered near White House
A bomb squad was deployed to investigate what authorities have called a 'suspicious package' located near the White House, before ultimately giving the all-clear. Officers cordoned off the area and restricted pedestrian and vehicle traffic as specialists from the Metropolitan Police Department's Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD) unit examined the object on Sunday evening. The Secret Service confirmed that the package was located just outside a security perimeter near the executive mansion. But after a closer investigation, the area was cleared and roads were reopened. It remains unclear whether the package was dangerous.


BBC News
3 hours ago
- BBC News
Man charged after 150mph A12 Essex pursuit
A man has been charged with driving offences after allegedly driving at more than 150mph (240km/h) and failing to stop, prompting a police Police said the motorist was driving at high speeds on the A12 on Saturday, with both its officers and Metropolitan Police colleagues pursuing the vehicle, eventually bringing it to a stop at Ongar.A 31-year-old man from Barking, east London, was charged with drink-driving, dangerous driving and failing to was bailed and is set to appear at Basildon Magistrates' Court on 4 September. Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.