Leicestershire Police treat Kayleigh Haywood case as ‘murder’

Yesterday, magistrates granted detectives a further 36 hours to hold and question the two men, aged 27 and 28-years-old, who were arrested in the early hours of Monday morning (November 16).

The news came as officers widened the search for the teenager to include agricultural land near the village of Belton, 10 miles from her home.

“However residents can help by checking their gardens and outbuildings and getting in touch with us if they find anything which could be of significance”.

Kayleigh’s distraught parents, Stephanie Haywood and Martin Whitby, have issued a statement and have pleaded with the public for information.

When Kayleigh Haywood’s father dropped her off outside of Ibstock Community College last Friday, he would never have known it may have been the last time he would see his daughter.

“We love Kayleigh so much and without her our family is incomplete”.

DCS David Sandall, of Leicestershire police, said: “We have become increasingly concerned for Kayleigh’s safety as the hours have passed since she was dropped off by her dad on Friday evening”.

Officers taped off a home in Bakers Croft estate near Ibstock in Leicestershire, and Sence Valley Forest Park on Monday night.

Searches will continue there, and at locations in Belton and Diseworth tomorrow.

Since Kayleigh vanished, a mobile phone and items of clothing believed to belong to her have been discovered.

Anyone with any information can call 0800 096 1233 or 0207 158 0197.

They were originally arrested on suspicion of kidnap and have now been re-arrested on suspicion of murder.

He also confirmed that Kayleigh’s Facebook account was being examined by officers investigating her disappearance, which he described as being totally out of character.

But it is believed the popular youngster secretly met a man she had been in contact with on social media.

Police have cordoned off a couple of buildings in Ibstock and erected a police forensics tent in Sence Valley Forest Park.

A church visited by Kayleigh in the past offered local people the chance to pray for her safe return.

Appealing directly to Kayleigh, her parents said: “Your brothers and sister are missing you and just want you home”.