Melanie Wilson: body found during search for missing 22-year-old who texted dad to say 'I love you'

Police searching for missing 22-year-old Melanie Wilson in Nottinghamshire say they have found a body "outside a property" near her home in Sutton-in-Ashfield. Although the body has yet to be formally identified Melanie's family have been informed.

Melanie, who was originally from Mansfield but moved to Sutton two years ago, was last seen near her flat in Stoneyford Road at about 11.20pm on Wednesday 19th October 2016. In her last known communication about 20 minutes earlier she texted her father to say "I love you."

In an emotional appeal on Wednesday (2 November) Melanie's father David spoke of his family's torment. "I'd imagine hell is similar to what I and family and friends are going through," he said. "We're all heartbroken. Everywhere we look there's a reminder of her.

"The last time I saw her was when she popped in to see me at home on Monday (October 17). We just had a general chat and hugged each other as she left. She seemed her usual self. The last contact I had with her was a text she sent me at about 11pm on Wednesday (October 19) which said 'I love you dad'. I sent her one back saying 'I love you too darling'."

As the search for Melanie intensified, police divers searched Sutton Lawn Park pond and King's Mill Reservoir near her home. Up to 250 volunteers joined the search, handing out flyers and going door-to-door to ask residents if they had seen the charity shop worker. The volunteers have said they will keep looking until the body is formally identified.

According to The Star, the body was found in the back garden of an unoccupied bungalow in Stoney Street by prospective tenants who had gone to view the property. A neighbour, Gemma Flint, 34, told The Star: "I was talking to the woman who came to view the bungalow. She was hoping to move into it. She came round to look and she pushed the gate and went round the back and she saw the girl sat at the side of the dustbin. She was all dressed up in black, they thought she'd been beat up."

In a statement Nottinghamshire Police said: "Police investigating the disappearance of missing Melanie Wilson have found the body of a woman outside a property in Sutton-in-Ashfield today (Thursday 3 November). Whilst formal identification has not yet taken place, Melanie's family has been informed of this development."