Missing schoolgirl 'likely abducted' after body found in jungle near resort
The family of a 15-year-old British girl whose body was found naked near a stream in Malaysian jungle believe she was abducted.
Nora Anne Quoirin’s body was identified by her family on Tuesday (local time) after she was found dead 2.5km from the Dusun eco-resort in Seremban, 60km south of Kuala Lumpur, where her family arrived on August 3 for a two-week dream holiday.
The following day when her parents went to check on Nora, who has learning and physical difficulties, wasn’t in her room and her window was wide open.
While police believe the girl climbed out of the window herself, her family strongly refuted such claims, saying she isn’t independent and wouldn’t wander off alone.
They believe it is likely she was abducted.
Her body was airlifted to a hospital for identification and an autopsy following her discovery later on Tuesday (local time).
"The family members have been brought here to identify the body that we recovered earlier and the family has confirmed that the body is Nora Anne," Negeri Sembilan police chief Mohamad Mat Yusop told reporters at the hospital morgue.
While she had been listed as a missing person, investigations included possible criminal aspects of the case.
Mr Mohamad said a senior pathologist would conduct a post mortem on Wednesday morning (local time) to determine the cause of death.
Body found in area already searched
National deputy police chief Mazlan Mansor told a news conference earlier the body, which "was not in any clothing", was found by volunteers registered with the rescue team on Tuesday afternoon (local time) in an area that had previously been searched.
He didn't explain how long the body had been there or why rescuers apparently missed it.
Nearly 350 people have been involved in a massive search operation that included sniffer dogs, elite commando forces and thermal detectors, but no evidence had been turned up until the discovery of the body on Tuesday.
Police from Ireland, France and the UK are also on site to assist in the investigation.
The girl's mother is from Ireland and her father is French, but the family has lived in London for 20 years.
On Monday, Nora’s mother, Meabh Quoirin, announced a 50,000 ringgit (AU$17,500) reward, donated by a Belfast-based business, for information leading to the recovery of her daughter.
With AP
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