The reward to help find a 21-year-old woman who went missing two years ago has been doubled.
Leah Croucher has been missing from her home in Quantock Crescent, Emerson Valley, Milton Keynes, since February 15, 2019.
The last confirmed sighting of her was at 8.16am on the morning she went missing.
In the months that followed Leah’s disappearance, two donors, who wish to remain anonymous, approached the Thames Valley Police investigation team to offer a combined £10,000 reward for information which directly led to Leah being found.
Now, following a fresh appeal for information on the second anniversary of her disappearance, further offers of financial support have been made, meaning the reward is now £20,000.
Leah’s family said: “We are extremely grateful to the local businesses that have donated towards the reward for the safe return of our beautiful daughter, Leah.
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“The kindness of strangers, willing to offer their own money to help us find the answers we desperately need, is humbling beyond words. Thank you is not a strong enough word to convey our gratitude.
“We can only hope that the doubling of the reward amount will yield results and finally lead to information allowing us to find what happened to Leah that fateful day. There are still so many questions and barely any answers.
“Again, we are asking you to please share this information far and wide, so that everyone is aware of the increase to £20,000.
“During these times of Covid crisis, we hope that the person or persons who have the information we need will now finally come forward and inform the police.”
Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Chief Inspector Andy Howard, said: “I can confirm that the reward for information that directly leads us to locating Leah has increased to £20,000.
“I am incredibly grateful, as I know Leah’s family are, and would like to thank all the donors for their contributions in offering this reward, which we hope will encourage anyone with the right piece of information to come forward and speak to us.
“Since Leah went missing on February 15, 2019, there has been a fantastic response from the public, and particularly the local community in Milton Keynes.
“These donations show how committed the local community are to helping find Leah and providing the answers that her family need and deserve.
“Hopefully this is the incentive that somebody out there needs to come forward.
“Since the second anniversary appeal to locate Leah last month, the force has received 20 reports of new information relating to the investigation, all of which are being assessed in detail and investigated accordingly.
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“However, at this time the force does not have a confirmed sighting of Leah since the day she was reported missing.
“Our investigation into Leah’s disappearance remains open, and we are committed to finding her and bringing her back safely to her family.”
Anyone who has information on this case is asked to contact 101 quoting reference number 43190049929, or Operation Dawlish. You can also report online.
Information can also be left via TVP’s dedicated website for this investigation at mipp.police.uk/operation/43H218A55-PO1.
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