Police stop motorists in Inverness in bid to find Jade
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Police yesterday stepped up their hunt for missing Aviemore teenager Jade McGrath as a week elapsed since her last positive sighting in Inverness.
Around 15 officers mounted a special operation around 2pm, the time it was when 19-year-old Jade was last spotted in Leachkin Road on Wednesday November 28, possible in a distressed state.
The police team stopped vehicles and pedestrians heading along that street, asking drivers and passengers to think back to a week ago in case it jogged memories.
Inspector James Rice, leading the canvassing operation, also urged drivers to review their dash-cam footage in case Jade had been filmed in the area or elsewhere.
They were already reviewing three dash-cam images said Insp Rice, who also revealed that there had been several unconfirmed sightings of Jade in the Leachkin area, elsewhere in Inverness, Aviemore and “wider afield.”
But he stressed that there was only one confirmed sighting and that was in Leachkin Road.
Insp Rice commented: “Jade was wearing a parka with the fluffy trimmed hood turned up, so she might not have attracted much notice from passing drivers or pedestrians. While her description has been circulated not everyone might have tapped into this so we are hoping today’s exercise might help people to think back to one week ago.
“Obviously the very cold weather over the past week is a concern and we hope she is with someone we don’t know about, or been given shelter by someone we don’t know about. We appeal to everyone to check their outbuildings and sheds, even if they are secured because Jade is quite a small person and may have managed to gain entry.”
Insp Rice said the scale of the police search operation was significant, and as well as Wednesday’s canvassing, other officers have been checking CCTV along other routes from the Leachkin, checking Inverness bus station and bus CCTV, as well as interviewing people and assessing any possible sightings of Jade reported to them.
Meanwhile Jade’s worried family issued an appeal to her to get in touch if she was safe.
The family said: "As each day goes on, we are growing increasingly concerned for Jade and we just desperately want answers and to know where she is.
"There has been a massive amount of support from friends and family, as well as people we have never met, and that is what is keeping us going.
"Anyone who was in the Leachkin area last Wednesday afternoon from around 1.45pm, please think back and if you think you might have seen anything please call the police.
“She had no phone or money with her and she would most likely have been in a distressed state if you saw her. We are grateful to everyone who has helped so far and are just desperate for news.
"If Jade is reading this, we want you to know that we love you very much and we just want you home safe."
Jade is about 5ft 2in, petite with long bleached blonde hair.
She was wearing a khaki green parka with a fluffy hood, black leggings and black/white Nike trainers.
Jade has distinctive Alice in Wonderland tattoos on one of her forearms.
On the same arm she has diamond and club card symbols, as well as a small diamond tattoo on her hand.
Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 101 quoting incident 1997 of 28 November, 2018.
