Death of Miya, 11, in Elmley Castle not investigated as crime
West Mercia Police have concluded that the death of 11-year-old Miya in Elmley Castle is not being treated as a criminal matter. Authorities have urged the public to avoid speculation to protect the privacy and well-being of the grieving family.
Why it matters
Addresses a sensitive local tragedy while highlighting the negative impact of social media speculation on police investigations and families.
Image caption, West Mercia Police said they had found no evidence of suspicious circumstances in the death of 11-year-old Miya
The death of an 11-year-old girl whose body was found in a park is not being treated as a criminal investigation, police have said.
The girl, who was earlier named by West Mercia Police as Miya, was found near a village cricket ground in Elmley Castle, Worcestershire, after being reported missing late on Sunday evening.
Ch Insp Daniel Pilkington said the force had "ruled out third-party involvement" in her death and found no evidence of suspicious circumstances.
"We hope this update addresses some of the speculation that has circulated in recent days," he said, asking people to "think of Miya's family before posting online".
Harriet Baldwin, MP for West Worcestershire, had previously asked people not to speculate after news of the incident was shared widely online .
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in