Fresh sighting of missing woman - but chances of finding her "remote"

Tuesday 07 March 2017

Two islanders have come forward to say they saw Valerie Jehan - who's been missing since Friday lunchtime - on the path down to Devil's Hole.

It's the only sighting reported to Police since she got off her bus from town at 12:07, and the Police say the chances of finding her alive are now "remote."

The seventy-five year-old left her home in the Undercliff Road area just after 11:30, saying she was going for a walk - but took a bus to Devil's Hole instead. She was seen getting off the bus there, and then by two walkers on the path down to the cave itself at 12:50.

But apart from that, the Police have little else to work on, apart from her mobile phone still signalling it is somewhere on the north coast. 

Since Friday the emergency services have launched an extensive search involving helicopters and police dogs, and have even drained a nearby reservoir in their attempts to find her. 

But the Police say that given her age, the terrain and the poor weather, the chances of finding her safe and well are "remote."

Chief Inspector Chris Beechey said: “Although we have received this one sighting, a contact that reinforces what we have been doing over the last few days, we continue to believe that something has happened to Valerie soon after this time and that she has either slipped or stumbled in what is very difficult and slippery terrain even for a young walker.

“Sadly because of the passage of time, the weather conditions and Valerie’s age we now believe the chances of finding her alive are remote. However our search team officers continue to look for her and our specially trained Family Liaison Officers continue to support the family at this very difficult time.

“It is likely that our designated land search will be completed in the next few days and if so, this particular aspect of the investigation will stop however all other enquiries will continue.

“Once again I appeal to anyone who was in the area of Devil’s Hole at lunchtime or early afternoon on Friday to ring us on 612612. Even if you are sure that you didn’t see Valerie that could still help our investigation.”