UK - Claire Knights, 54, diabetic, last seen a.m. Upstreet village, nr Canterbury, Kent, later in Minnis Bay, 23 Aug 2023 *arrest*

[MsMiniSleuth]

The public's help is sought to find a missing woman from #Upstreet, near #Canterbury.

Claire Knights was last seen in the village on the morning of Wednesday 23 August 2023 and is believed to have travelled to the #MinnisBay area of #Thanet, where she is reported to have been seen later that afternoon.

The 54-year-old is described as around 5ft, 6ins tall, with straight brown, greying hair. She is thought to be carrying a red or pink rucksack and was walking a white and brown spaniel.

Officers are concerned for her welfare and urge anyone who has seen her or knows of her whereabouts to call 999, quoting reference 23-1922.

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid0iUEY1RoUUUfpDJ9ckRy3jmRcQo7Ee2wJJfvjEmFoqoC9tunCLS56SesdtYRAriuFl&id=100064862405398

 

[StillDiggin]

Quite concerning about her dog being found on the beach running loose.

Woman reported missing after ‘dog found running loose on beach’

Police are searching for a missing woman after her dog was reportedly found running loose on a beach

www.kentonline.co.uk

Lifeboat crews resume search for missing woman

Lifeboats continued to scour the coast and sea this morning, in the search for missing woman Claire Knights

www.kentonline.co.uk

 

[MissMarple33]

Margate man arrested on suspicion of murder in search for missing Claire Knights

Detectives from Kent Police’s Major Crime Unit investigating the disappearance of a woman from Upstreet, near Canterbury, have arrested a man. Claire Knights, aged 54, was last seen in the vi…

theisleofthanetnews.com

 

[MsMiniSleuth]

The son of a missing dogwalker who took her spaniel to the beach before vanishing suddenly has revealed that his mother has diabetes and was last seen wearing a bikini.

Claire Knights, 54, was last seen in the village of Upstreet near Canterbury, Kent, on Wednesday morning. Detectives, who said it was 'entirely out of character' for her not to contact her family, have now arrested a man in his 20s on suspicion of murder.

Her silver Suzuki car has since been found parked in Shuart Lane in St Nicholas-at-Wade near Margate. She is believed to have walked from there to the Minnis Bay area of Birchington, where she is reported to have been seen later that afternoon.

Her white-and-brown spaniel called Zebulon was also found wandering around on the beach on its own by police on Wednesday. The 54-year-old's disappearance is now being treated as suspicious and today, police arrested a man in his 20s from Margate on suspicion of murder.

Her distraught son Elliott revealed in a Facebook appeal last night that his mother was last seen between 4pm and 430pm on Wednesday 'wearing a bikini' and was 'most likely heading to her parked car'.

[...]

Detectives arrest man on suspicion of murder after woman disappeared

Claire Knights, 54, was last seen in the village of Upstreet near Canterbury, Kent, on Wednesday morning. Police said it was 'entirely out of character' for her not to contact her family.

www.dailymail.co.uk

 

[MsMiniSleuth]

This has all taken an alarming turn...

 

[Kikicatfood]

Wonder who has been arrested?

 

[overthemoon]

Hope it’s NOT someone known to her

 

[Kikicatfood]

Hope it’s NOT someone known to her

I thought the same …

 

[MsMiniSleuth]

Villagers near Minnis Bay have spoken of feeling unsettled as the search for missing woman Claire Knights continues.

The 54-year-old mum from Canterbury was last seen in the area near Birchington-on-Sea on Wednesday morning, and police have since said her disappearance is being treated as suspicious and a potential murder.

Villagers near Minnis Bay have spoken of feeling unsettled as the search for missing woman Claire Knights continues.

The 54-year-old mum from Canterbury was last seen in the area near Birchington-on-Sea on Wednesday morning, and police have since said her disappearance is being treated as suspicious and a potential murder.

[...]

Today police were stopping those walking and cycling along the coastal trail and making inquiries, while two police cars remained in Minnis Bay Car Park.

Claire’s vehicle, a silver Suzuki car, has been found parked in Shuart Lane in St Nicholas At Wade, and it is believed she walked from there to the Minnis Bay area – an hour and a half’s walk through what residents say is a marshy, secluded area, full of dykes.

Another resident told KentOnline it had been an “unsettling” time for the community.

“I’m a regular swimmer, so I spend a lot of time down on the beach,” she said. “It wasn’t so bad when we thought she had been taken ill or something but now we hear she may have been killed it's very unsettling.

“It hasn’t made us feel unsafe but it is unsettling. I think there’s a bit of an edge to everybody..."

[...]

‘There’s an edge to everybody as we wait to hear about missing Claire’

Villagers feels unsettled and on edge as the search continues for mum Claire Knights, while a man has been arrested on suspicion of murder.

www.kentonline.co.uk

 

[StillDiggin]

There also has been a young male who was missing the night of the 22nd August in exactly this area, appeal put out by Kent Police. He has since been found.

 

[Normal Norm]

There also has been a young male who was missing the night of the 22nd August in exactly this area, appeal put out by Kent Police. He has since been found.

Given the man's age and the very close proximity of locations, my gut feeling is that this IS related to Claire's disappearance.

 

[spangled]

https://www.kent.police.uk/news/kent/latest/policing-news/woman-found-deceased-near-minnis-bay/?fbclid=IwAR0OnekFARnfB2ETVYQs2EwFUNcQjBcUhu1iBKwBnlMk0fgEOlDg3rTSJfk

A body has been found today... he3 family has been informed

 

[MsMiniSleuth]

Officers have attended a location near Minnis Bay, Birchington where a woman has been found deceased.

Kent Police was alerted by a member of the public shortly after 7pm yesterday (August 25) and patrols are currently at the scene.

Formal identification has not yet taken place, however, the family of 54-year-old Claire Knights, reported missing from Upstreet on Wednesday 23 August, are aware.

Claire was last seen in Upstreet on the morning of Wednesday 23 August. Her vehicle, a silver Suzuki car, has since been found parked in Shuart Lane, St Nicholas At Wade.

She is believed to have walked from there to the Minnis Bay area of Birchington, where she is reported to have been seen later that afternoon walking her dog. The spaniel was recovered in Minnis Bay by officers on 23 August.

The death is being treated as suspicious and on Thursday 24 August, a man in his 20s from Margate was arrested on suspicion of murder.

Body found near Minnis Bay in search for missing Claire Knights

Officers have attended a location near Minnis Bay, Birchington where a woman has been found deceased. Kent Police was alerted by a member of the public shortly after 7pm yesterday (August 25) and p…

theisleofthanetnews.com

 

[StillDiggin]

Really sad news. Our condolences to Claire’s family & friends.

Police find body in hunt for woman who vanished on dog walk amid murder probe

Police have found a body in the search for 54-year-old Claire Knights, who went missing on August 23 while walking her dog in the village of Upstreet, Kent

www.mirror.co.uk

 

[imstilla.grandma]

One woman walking her dog nearby, who did not want to be named, said: “it’s an absolute tragedy. This is such a popular route for walkers and people with their dogs. I can’t believe something like this has happened here.”

A friend, who has known Claire for 54, years, said: 'I last saw Claire three weeks ago and she seemed fine.

'She seemed her usual self. I feel like something terrible has happened to her. I'm very upset about it. We're absolutely devastated.'

The friend, who asked not to be named, said Claire is a talented sculptor who has won awards for her work.

She added: 'She's an incredibly good artist and not commercial at all - her work comes right from her heart. It's profound.

'She deserves some recognition. She never takes the easy route - her work is amazing.'

The friend described Ms Knights as an 'animal lover' who regularly looks after other people's pets.

She added: 'Her and her partner look after dogs. She's a massive animal lover, so it's no surprise that she was walking her dog when she disappeared.

Police find body in hunt for missing sculptor

Claire Knights is a talented sculptor and artist who vanished while out walking her dog. A man in his 20s from Margate has been arrested on suspicion of murder.

www.dailymail.co.uk

 

[MsMiniSleuth]

So it must be 48hrs now. Time for a police statement?

"...and a man in his 20s from Margate was arrested on Thursday on suspicion of murder..."

Claire Knights: Body found in search for missing dog walker

The family of Claire Knights, who went missing from Upstreet, has been informed, police say.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[MissMarple33]

Kent Police has now launched a murder investigation after a woman was found dead near Birchington during the search for missing Claire Knights.

Shortly after 7pm on Friday 25 August, officers attended the scene between St Nicholas At Wade and Minnis Bay.

Formal identification has not yet taken place, however, the family of 54-year-old Claire, reported missing from Upstreet on Wednesday 23 August, are aware.

A post mortem examination has been completed and Kent Police’s Major Crime Department has now launched a murder investigation.

Claire’s vehicle, a silver Suzuki car, was recovered from Shuart Lane, St Nicholas At Wade. She is believed to have walked from there to the Minnis Bay area of Birchington with her dog, where she is reported to have been seen later that afternoon.

The spaniel was recovered in Minnis Bay by officers on 23 August.



On Thursday 24 August, a man in his 20s from Margate was arrested on suspicion of murder. He has since been detained for assessment by medical professionals.

There will be an increased police presence in the area as searches by specialist officers and enquiries by a team of detectives continue.

Anyone with information that may assist the investigation should call 101, quoting reference number 23-1922.

Murder investigation: Man held for medical assessment after body found during search for Claire Knights

Kent Police has now launched a murder investigation after a woman was found dead near Birchington during the search for missing Claire Knights. Shortly after 7pm on Friday 25 August, officers atten…

theisleofthanetnews.com

 

[Kaykedi]

Kent Police has now launched a murder investigation after a woman was found dead near Birchington during the search for missing Claire Knights.

Shortly after 7pm on Friday 25 August, officers attended the scene between St Nicholas At Wade and Minnis Bay.

Formal identification has not yet taken place, however, the family of 54-year-old Claire, reported missing from Upstreet on Wednesday 23 August, are aware.

A post mortem examination has been completed and Kent Police’s Major Crime Department has now launched a murder investigation.

Claire’s vehicle, a silver Suzuki car, was recovered from Shuart Lane, St Nicholas At Wade. She is believed to have walked from there to the Minnis Bay area of Birchington with her dog, where she is reported to have been seen later that afternoon.

The spaniel was recovered in Minnis Bay by officers on 23 August.



On Thursday 24 August, a man in his 20s from Margate was arrested on suspicion of murder. He has since been detained for assessment by medical professionals.

There will be an increased police presence in the area as searches by specialist officers and enquiries by a team of detectives continue.

Anyone with information that may assist the investigation should call 101, quoting reference number 23-1922.

Murder investigation: Man held for medical assessment after body found during search for Claire Knights

Kent Police has now launched a murder investigation after a woman was found dead near Birchington during the search for missing Claire Knights. Shortly after 7pm on Friday 25 August, officers atten…

theisleofthanetnews.com

I wonder why formal identification has not taken place yet?
I had also been wondering why the suspect hadn't been charged with Claire's murder and anticipated that it must be due to the suspect awaiting medical assessment. Thank you for uploading this article Missmarple33

 

[MissMarple33]

No problem, Kaykedi. I had wondered if the man arrested was maybe the missing Margate man but the age is wrong. He is in his 40s and the arrested man in his 20s. Hopefully the police will release a statement with more detail soon!

 

[MsMiniSleuth]

No problem, Kaykedi. I had wondered if the man arrested was maybe the missing Margate man but the age is wrong. He is in his 40s and the arrested man in his 20s. Hopefully the police will release a statement with more detail soon!

What "missing Margate man"?? There's ANOTHER from area??

There was a 20yo, "HL", missing from Birchington on 22nd, found on 24th. Much speculation on this one...