Around 2.50pm today (Monday 17 October, 2022) the body of a woman was found on Cramond Island as part of ongoing inquiries to locate a missing person.
No formal identification has taken place, however the family of 47-year-old Averil Shepley, reported missing from Edinburgh, has been notified.
Officers remain at the scene and enquiries are ongoing.
Police are continuing to appeal for information to help trace missing 47-year-old Averil Shepley from Edinburgh. Averil was last seen in the Marchmont area at around 10.30pm on Friday (30 September, 2022).
She is described as white, around 5ft 7in tall, of slight build, with short dark hair.
When last seen, she was wearing a black woolly hat with toggles on each side and black trousers. It is believed she may be wearing a bright pink Goretex jacket and a black and red rucksack in her possession.
Chief Inspector Murray Tait said: “We are becoming increasingly concerned for Averil’s welfare and would urge anyone who may have seen her, or has any information on her whereabouts, to contact police.
“Likewise, if Averil sees or hears about this appeal, please call us or your family, so we know you are safe and well.”
Anyone with information which could assist is asked to contact Police Scotland on 101, quoting reference number 0090 of 1 October, 2022.
**** UPDATE ****
GOOD NEWS – MARYAM HAS BEEN TRACED SAFE AND WELL
Police are appealing for information to help trace 24-year-old Maryam Arshad from Edinburgh. Maryam was last seen in the Ferry Road area about 4.45pm on Wednesday, 20 July, 2022.
She is described as being five foot seven inches tall, with long dark hair worn in a ponytail. When last seen was wearing a pink lightweight summer jacket with maroon top underneath, patterned trousers with small flowers.
She was carrying a small black cross body black bag.
Inspector Caroline Flynn said : “We are growing increasingly concerned for the welfare of a Maryam and would ask her to get in contact.
“Anyone who knows where she is, is asked to contact Police Scotland on 101, quoting incident number 3581 of 20 July.”
‘Extensive enquiries have been carried out as part of our efforts to trace 28-year-old Alice Byrne, including house to house enquiries, CCTV reviews and detailed searches in the local area.
‘Alice was last seen leaving a friend’s flat in Marlborough Street, Edinburgh, on the morning of Saturday, 1 January, 2022, and walking towards the promenade and beach.
‘Our enquiries have subsequently indicated that Alice entered the water alone on the morning she went missing.
‘Efforts to trace her continue and officers are providing support and updates to Alice’s family.’
In a statement released though Police Scotland, shortly after herdisappearance Alice’s family said: “Alice has been missing for one week now and we are shocked and distressed by her disappearance.
“She always keeps in contact with us so we are extremely worried because we have not heard from her. We are desperate to know where she is.
“If Alice sees this, we want her to know how much we miss her. We just want her home safe and well.”
One week on from when she was last seen in Portobello, the family of 28-year-old Alice Byrne yesterday issued an appeal urging anyone with information on her whereabouts to come forward.
Alice’s family said: “Alice has been missing for one week now and we are shocked and distressed by her disappearance. She always keeps in contact with us so we are extremely worried because we have not heard from her. We are desperate to know where she is.
“If Alice sees this, we want her to know how much we miss her. We just want her home safe and well.
“We urge anyone who has seen Alice, or who has any information at all that might help police find her to phone officers and pass on any information you have.
“We are very grateful for the support we have received during this upsetting time. We would like to thank everyone who has shared appeals to find her, the police for their professionalism and especially the local community for all the support they’ve given.”
Alice was last seen leaving a friend’s flat in Marlborough Street between 8am and 10am on Saturday, 1 January and from enquiries to date, officers believe that she potentially headed in the direction of the promenade and beach.
She is described as white, around 5ft 6ins in height and of medium build with short black hair. When she was last seen she was wearing a black top, black jeans ripped at the knees and white trainers.
Chief Inspector Kieran Dougal said yesterday: “It has now been one week since Alice was last seen and since then she has not made any contact with family or friends. As time passes we have become increasingly concerned for her wellbeing and safety.
“Since Alice was reported missing, extensive searches and enquiries have been carried out throughout primarily the Portobello area. These searches are ongoing and we continue to be assisted by specialist police resources including air support, police dogs, search officers and our Marine Unit.
“We continue to appeal to anyone who was in the Portobello area at that time who may have dash cam footage to check devices and call if you have any sightings of Alice. We are aware that the beach and Promenade area was busy on New Year’s morning so appeal to anyone to review photos and call if they have any information that may assist in tracing Alice. Officers have been speaking to local people and visiting local businesses in the area in case anyone remembers seeing Alice in the area.
“Naturally Alice’s friends and family are extremely concerned and we just want to trace her as soon as possible to ensure she is safe. Again, I would urge anyone who has seen Alice since Saturday, 1 January, or who has any information that may be relevant to our investigation to contact us as soon as possible.
“If Alice reads this appeal, please phone your family, friends or the police.”
Any information can be passed to police through 101 with reference 0647 of 2 January.
Police in Edinburgh are appealing for the assistance of the public in tracing a 28-year-old Alathea Byrne – known as Alice – who is missing from her home in Portobello.
Alice was last seen by her family at her home around 2am on Saturday, 1 January. She met friends in Marlborough Street and left a flat there around 10am on Saturday.
She is described as white, around 5ft 6ins in height and of medium build with short black hair. When she was last seen she was wearing an orange jacket, black top, black jeans and white trainers. She was carrying a black rucksack.
Inspector Keith Scott said: “It is out of character for Alice not to keep in contact with her family and friends. We are becoming increasingly concerned for her wellbeing and we are working to trace her as soon as possible to ensure that she is safe and well.
“Searches and enquiries have been ongoing since she was reported missing, and we are now asking the public for any assistance they can provide.
“I would urge anyone who has seen Alice since Saturday morning, or anyone with information on her whereabouts to contact us as soon as possible.
“I would appeal to Alice herself to contact us if she sees this appeal. Contact 101 quoting reference 0647 of 2 January.”
Police are appealing for information to help find a woman reported missing from the local area.
Leanne Reilly, 45, was reported missing from the Telford Road area around 2.10pm yesterday (Monday, 13 September). She was last seen in the Gorgie, Slateford area around 2.30pm on Sunday, 12 September.
Leanne is described as being around 5ft 6in height, of medium build, with long black hair and glasses. There is no current description of her clothing, however she is believed to be in possession of a pink suitcase.
Inspector Keith Scott said: “We are becoming increasingly concerned for Leanne’s welfare and are keen to find her as soon as possible.
“We would appeal to anyone with information on her whereabouts or anyone who has seen anyone matching her description to get in touch.”
Anyone with any information is asked to contact 101 quoting incident 1719 of 13 September.
Police in Edinburgh are delighted to report that 71 year old Lorna Ferguson, reported missing earlier from Pilrig Street, Edinburgh has been TRACED SAFE AND WELL In the East Lothian area.
Police are releasing a further image of 71-year-old woman, Lorna Ferguson, missing from Bathgate this morning. The image shows Lorna near Pilrig Street.
Officers are also checking a reported sighting of Lorna in Portobello Road this afternoon.
Lorna Ferguson was last seen exiting out of Pilrig Park, Edinburgh, around 11am this morning, Saturday 30 January, 2021.
She is white, around 4 ft. 10 inches in height, with a medium build, and short silver hair. She was wearing beige coloured trousers, walking boots and a green Rab puffer jacket. She was walking her dog, a brown coloured cockapoo, with a luminous yellow, extendable lead.
Lorna has dementia and her family is extremely concerned. She has never gone missing before and they just want to know she is safe and well.
Extensive enquiries are under way to locate Lorna, but efforts so face have provide unsuccessful. Officers are checking CCTV footage for any additional information which could assist in the inquiry.
Anyone who has seen or has any knowledge as to Lorna’s whereabouts is asked to call Police Scotland via 101, quoting incident number 1733.
Police are appealing for the public’s help to trace a 38-year-old woman reported missing in Edinburgh.
Tara O’Donnell was last seen in the Haymarket area of Edinburgh around 12.15 pm on Wednesday 2nd December 2020 and there are concerns for her welfare.
It is thought that she may currently be in Edinburgh or have travelled to the Belfast area of Northern Ireland.
Tara is described as about 5 foot 3 inches, curly red/auburn hair, average build, wearing a waist length yellow rain coat.
Anyone who may have seen Tara since this time, or who has any information on her whereabouts, is urged to contact Police Scotland via 101 quoting incident number 1698 of 03/12/2020.
POLICE are pleased to confirm that Tara O’Donnell has been traced safe and well. We would like to thank the public for their assistance.
Friday 11 December
Police are re-appealing for the public’s help as part of their efforts to trace Lauren Weeks (35) who has been reported missing in Edinburgh.
Enquires have now revealed that Lauren was in the York Place vicinity on Thursday (12 November).
New images are being released as Lauren’s hair may now appear to be darker than originally posted.
She is described as a white female, 5’7” tall, slim build, long blonde/brown hair. She is believed to be dressed all in black wearing a high quality windproof jacket, skirt and ankle boots. She is believed to be carrying a large grey mountaineering style backpack, a dark green duffle bag and a dark green sleeping bag.
Anyone who may have seen Lauren, or who has any information on her whereabouts, is urged to contact Police Scotland via 101 quoting incident number 1155 of 12/11/2020
