UK - Alesha MacPhail, 6, raped & murdered, Ardbeg, Isle of Bute, Scotland, 2 Jul 2018 -teen arrested

[Tortoise]

Her body was found about half a mile away from their home on the site of the former Kyles of Bute Hydropathic Hotel, which was demolished in the 1970s.

An investigation was launched, but police have not confirmed whether the little girl's death was being treated as suspicious.

Police find the body of missing Rothesay girl on site of old hotel | Daily Mail Online

 

[Ellmau]

I suspect the police are also suspicious:
​

Det Supt Stuart Houston from Police Scotland's major investigation teams said: "This death of a six-year-old child has shocked the tight-knit community of Rothesay and it is imperative that we find out what has happened.

"This investigation is at its very early stages however I am appealing for information in order to piece together Alesha's last known movements.

"We know that once the alarm was raised about her being missing, there were a number of local people who assisted with the search.

"I would like to speak to anyone who was involved in that search who has not yet been spoken to by the police. This is to ensure that everyone that was in the vicinity of Ardbeg Road at the time is traced as they may have critical information which could assist with the investigation."

Body of missing six-year-old girl found

 

[Trinitee]

Police appeal after six-year-old's body found on Isle of Bute

Police have appealed for help investigating the unexplained death of a six-year-old girl whose body was found in woodland on the Isle of Bute. Detectives confirmed the body of Alesha MacPhail had been found on Monday morning near her home in Rothesay, on the Isle of Bute in the Clyde, around two and a half hours after she was reported missing.

Police appeal after six-year-old's body found on Isle of Bute

 

[Trinitee]

Alesha MacPhail: Police looking for anyone who helped search for six year old

DETECTIVES are asking anyone who helped search for missing Alesha MacPhail to come forward as they warn locals not to be alarmed. Police Scotland has confirmed an investigation is underway after the body of a six-year-old girl, named locally as Alesha, was found in woodland on the Isle of Bute.

Alesha MacPhail: Police looking for anyone who helped search for six-year-old

 

[Tortoise]

Detective Superintendent Stuart Houston from Police Scotland's Major Investigation Teams said: "This death of a six-year-old child has shocked the tight knit community of Rothesay and it is imperative that we find out what has happened.

"This investigation is at its very early stages however I am appealing for information in order to piece together Alesha's last known movements.

"We know that once the alarm was raised about her being missing, there were a number of local people who assisted with the search.

"I would like to speak to anyone who was involved in that search who have not yet been spoken to by the police.

"This is to ensure that everyone that was in the vicinity of Ardbeg Road at the time is traced as they may have critical information which could assist with the investigation.

Officers will be carrying out door-to-door enquiries as well as speaking to local residents and visitors to the island coming from the ferry route.

[...]
Alesha MacPhail: Police looking for anyone who helped search for six-year-old

 

[Tortoise]

The body of a young girl was found in woodland on the site of a former hotel in Ardbeg Road by a member of the public at around 9am.

Body found on Bute believed to be that of missing girl Alesha MacPhail

 

[Alyce]

Just looking at the photo in the DM ( will find the link ) and looks as though the place Alesha was found is not directly behind the house, as I thought....

 

[Tortoise]

Her Coatbridge-based mum, Georgina “Genie” Lochrane, 23, has since been escorted by police from her home and taken to the island this afternoon.

Georgina had earlier posted on the Facebook page of Alesha's gran Angela King: “Someone tell me what’s happened. That’s my daughter”, after Angela had written an online appeal urging people to help look for the girl.

[...more to read]

Another relation said: “We were called this morning when Alesha was missing and we were praying she would be found.

“We then got another call to say that a body had been found and police officers were coming to pick up her mother and take her over the the island.

“Family liaison officers have been talking to people but we have been told not to say anything about what happened to journalists.”

[...]

Angela is registered as living at the Rothesay address with partner Calum MacPhail, and Robert MacPhail, 25, who is Alesha’s dad.

He is in a relationship with another woman, Tonii Mclachlan. Tonii also made an appeal on social media to help find the little girl.

Alesha McPhail: Tragic schoolgirl's distraught mum escorted by police to Bute

 

[Tortoise]

Police could not comment on how the child died or what happened to her, and said that a post-mortem examination will be carried out.

Extra officers including forensics specialists have been sent to the island to help with the investigation.

No-one is in custody in connection with the incident.

Body of missing girl found in woodland on Isle of Bute - police launch major investigation

 

[Legally Bland]

Duplicate post.

 

[Alyce]

Just looking at the photo in the DM ( will find the link ) and looks as though the place Alesha was found is not directly behind the house, as I thought....

Think I'm too late to edit, so just attaching the DM link here

Police find the body of missing Rothesay girl on site of old hotel | Daily Mail Online

 

[Tortoise]

Think I'm too late to edit, so just attaching the DM link here

Police find the body of missing Rothesay girl on site of old hotel | Daily Mail Online

They've added a few more details to the article:-

..reported missing from their top floor flat

Alesha's father, Robert MacPhail, was seen among the police during the morning search, asking if anybody had seen his daughter.

Neighbours said he was 'white as a sheet' and calling her name along the beachside road.

It is believed that Alesha lives in Lanarkshire and was spending part of the summer holidays on the island.

The hotel, demolished in the 1970s, is only around 20 minutes' walk from Miss King and Mr MacPhail's home.

Police find the body of missing Rothesay girl on site of old hotel | Daily Mail Online

 

[Tortoise]

Bit early for school holidays isn't it?

 

[bluebird69]

Bit early for school holidays isn't it?

Schools finished up last Tuesday here in glasgow area

 

[LietKynes]

Alesha MacPhail: Police looking for anyone who helped search for six year old

DETECTIVES are asking anyone who helped search for missing Alesha MacPhail to come forward as they warn locals not to be alarmed. Police Scotland has confirmed an investigation is underway after the body of a six-year-old girl, named locally as Alesha, was found in woodland on the Isle of Bute.

Alesha MacPhail: Police looking for anyone who helped search for six-year-old

BBM

Sounds like they have an idea as to what might have happened ?
B/c it's a bit odd to tell the public there's no reason for alarm.

A child is dead. Within mere hours of her being reported as missing !
If a predator caught her--- he or she is still out there, roaming freely.
I'd think that'd be good reason to be hyper vigilant !!

My opinion is that if she was found deceased within such a short time.... we'll have an update soon with a poi ?

If she'd drowned , succumbed to hypothermia, or had been a victim of a wild animal attack--- wouldn't LE just come out and say it by now ?

Although obviously the autopsy hasn't have been completed yet.

So sad ..... and my condolences to all who loved her !
Rest in peace, little Alesha !
Only 6 years old.

 

[CoverMeCagney]

I agree something's not right with the police saying no cause for alarm. How, as a parent, could you NOT be alarmed by a child being taken from her bed in the middle of the night and later being found dead?

Either... they suspect she got there of her own volition and met with an accident.
Or... they suspect a perpetrator lies close to home and was known to Alesha, i.e it was personal rather than random.

Scotland MIT are involved, so I'm inclined to go with the latter.

 

[bluebird69]

I agree something's not right with the police saying no cause for alarm. How, as a parent, could you NOT be alarmed by a child being taken from her bed in the middle of the night and later being found dead?

Either... they suspect she got there of her own volition and met with an accident.
Or... they suspect a perpetrator lies close to home and was known to Alesha, i.e it was personal rather than random.

Scotland MIT are involved, so I'm inclined to go with the latter.

My thoughts too

 

[Bethan]

Slightly odd request, that they want to speak to anyone who helped in the search.
Makes me think the perpetrator is a local, who has assisted in the search......we know it happens!

 

[CoverMeCagney]

Slightly odd request, that they want to speak to anyone who helped in the search.
Makes me think the perpetrator is a local, who has assisted in the search......we know it happens!

Or they want to ask people what they might have observed or what kind of conversations they had with a certain person.

 

[LietKynes]

Slightly odd request, that they want to speak to anyone who helped in the search.
Makes me think the perpetrator is a local, who has assisted in the search......we know it happens!

BBM

You caught that, too ?

If harms' been done -- monsters exist and they walk among us ; sometimes even looking like a 'friendly next door neighbor'.

Wonder if there was any sec. cam. recordings of activity in the area where she was found ? If she died elsewhere and was carried to the area in which she was discovered.