The disappearance and alleged murder of 33-year-old Sarah Everard has shaken the nation. The marketing executive was loved by many, being described by those who were close to her as “popular, strong and incredibly kind.”
A serving Metropolitan Police officer, understood to be 48-year-old Wayne Couzens, was arrested on Tuesday in connection with Sarah’s disappearance.
This is a timeline of everything we know so far.
Wednesday, March 3rd
Sarah goes missing after leaving a friend’s house at 9pm in Clapham, South London. She was travelling home to Brixton at the time, a journey that should have taken approximately 50 minutes.
Saturday, March 6th
Metropolitan Police raise the alarm over Sarah’s disappearance. Family members said it was “totally out of character” for her to cease regular contact between these days.
https://twitter.com/metpoliceuk/status/1369338293616340998?s=20
Sunday, March 7th
Police release footage taken from a private doorbell-type camera showing Sarah walking along the A205 Poynders Road towards Tulse Hill, just south of Brixton.
She was spotted on CCTV cameras throughout the area, believed to be wearing a green rain jacket, navy blue trousers with a white diamond pattern and turquoise and orange trainers. She was reportedly on a phone call with her boyfriend for 15 minutes before being reported as missing.
Sarah’s uncle, Nick Everard, said while the police are doing everything they can, “not knowing what has happened after four days is agonising”.
Credit: Metropolitan Police, Sunday 7th March.
Monday, March 8th
Scotland Yard said it remains “open-minded as to all possibilities” over Sarah’s disappearance, while confirming a missing persons investigation.
Specialist officers are drafted in from across the Metropolitan Police force, with over 120 calls from members of the public sharing information.
https://twitter.com/metpoliceuk/status/1369437837813223432?s=20
Tuesday, March 9th
Police use sniffer dogs to search sites near Sarah’s envisaged walk home and in the nearby Oaklands Estate.
The Metropolitan Police tweeted that they had arrested a police officer at an address in Kent in connection with her disappearance. The serving Metropolitan Police officer, understood to be 48-year-old Wayne Couzens, was arrested in connection with Sarah’s disappearance.
Assistant Commissioner Nick Ephgrave said that the fact the man is a serving police officer, “is both shocking and deeply disturbing”.
https://twitter.com/metpoliceuk/status/1369437837813223432?s=20
Wednesday, March 10th
The force announced at around 3pm that the officer had been arrested on suspicion of kidnap, before being further arrested on suspicion of murder.
Later that evening, the Met commissioner, Cressida Dick, said “human remains” had been found in an area of woodland in Ashford in Kent and identified as Sarah Everard.
Thursday, March 11th
The Metropolitan Police officer, Wayne Couzens, suspected of kidnapping and murdering Sarah, was taken to hospital for a head injury sustained while in custody.
Scotland Yard announced that Couzens remains in custody after an application to extend his detention was granted at Wimbledon Magistrates’ Court.
Friday, March 12th
On Friday, the Metropolitan Police confirmed that the body found in Kent has been identified as 33-year-old Sarah Everard. Metropolitan Police’s Assistant Commissioner, Nick Ephgrave, made a statement, saying: “Sarah’s family have been updated with this most distressing news. I just want to pause for a moment and say that my thoughts and prayers, and those of the entire organisation, remain with her, and with them.”
Though finding justice for Sarah is of the utmost importance, we should remember the woman behind the headlines, too. Sarah Everard was a young woman caught in a horrible attack, but to her family, her friends and her colleagues, she is far more.
Sarah Everard's family are appealing for anyone with information that might assist the investigation to contact police.
They have described Sarah as "kind and strong", and have paid tribute to a “wonderful daughter and sister”.https://t.co/P6o2OLykTU pic.twitter.com/SfpINz6oeB
— Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) March 11, 2021
In a statement to the press, Sarah’s family said:
“Sarah was bright and beautiful – a wonderful daughter and sister. She was kind and thoughtful, caring and dependable. She always put others first and had the most amazing sense of humour.
“She was strong and principled and a shining example to us all.”
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