Youth rearrested after body pulled from canal

A 17-year-old youth has been rearrested on suspicion of murder after the discovery of a body by police searching for a missing teenage mother, officers said today.

Laura Wilson, 17, was last seen by family and friends at around 9.30pm on Saturday, close to her home in the Holmes area of Rotherham, South Yorkshire.

Yesterday, police divers began searching a section of the Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation Canal after personal belongings thought to belong to the missing mother of one were found close by.

Police said the death was being treated as "suspicious as a matter of routine".

An area near Steel Street in Rotherham was sealed off yesterday with officers treating it as a potential crime scene.

Detectives arrested a 17-year-old yesterday on suspicion of assault but today confirmed he has been rearrested on suspicion of murder.

A South Yorkshire Police spokesman said: "Due to the discovery of a female body in the canal near Steel Street, Rotherham, yesterday afternoon, police last night rearrested a 17-year-old man on suspicion of murder as a matter of course.

"The 17-year-old was originally arrested yesterday morning on suspicion of assault and remains in police custody assisting officers with their inquiries."

A Facebook page was set up to try to help find the missing teenager.

One message posted early yesterday said: "If you see this laura please get in touch...ur mum really wants you home!!! xx."

Last night, despite the body not being formally identified as the missing teenager, tributes were placed on the internet by many friends.

Kerry Davis wrote: "sweet dreams angel thinking ov ur family x."

Lisa Oakes said: "r.i.p love dint no u but my heart goes out to ur family and ur baby girl who's gonna grow up with out a wonderful mummy. x."

Another friend said: "you shall live in the hearts of those who loved you xx."

Emma Cooke said: "R I P laura my thoughts r with ur family and ur little girl gone 2 soon good nite sweetdreams xxxx."

Jordan Ritson said: "R.I.P Laura you were a true friend to me you are gonna be missed sooo much thinking about ur family at this sad time and ur little girl xxxxxxxxx lv always jordan xxxxxxxx."

Another Facebook contributor added: "R.I.P Laura my thoughts are with your family and friends and specially your little girl. How can something like this happen in our own town:( xxxx."

Laura Frost wrote: "R.I.P laura it was nice to have known you may the angels keep you safe and watch over your little princess my heart goes out to maggie an the family xxxxxxxxxxx."

Natalie O'Brien said: "Laura Laura Laura, What can we/people say except gone too soon taken from yr family and friends a innocent lill baybee left with out her mummy, only 4 months after u brought the gorgeous baby Aliysha in to the world, she will never no her mummy but she will live in memory of her mummy and be so looked after by her nanan... and aunty R.I.P love xxxxxxxxx another good angel gained in heaven now shine bright on yr baby girl xxx."