Police searching for missing student Libby Squire have said they are following up a number of lines of inquiry, including reports that a neighbour heard a “blood-curdling” scream on the night she disappeared.
Humberside Police said they have received hundreds of calls since the 21-year-old University of Hull student was reported missing from the city in the early hours of Friday morning and are taking statements from people living in the area she was last seen.
Miss Squire was dropped off in a taxi near her home on Wellesley Avenue at around 11.29pm on Thursday and was seen 10 minutes later on CCTV near a bench on Beverley Road, where a motorist stopped to offer her help.
She is believed to have been in this area until around 12.09am on Friday.
Searches are continuing today for 21-yr-old Libby Squire in Hull. We’ve received 100s of calls so far from people offering information and assistance. Thank you very much for that. These photos are the ones Libby’s family have asked to be used. Please share and #HelpFindLibby pic.twitter.com/zu7OMv0o9Z
— Humberside Police (@Humberbeat) February 5, 2019
On Tuesday, it was reported that a woman living in a street close to Miss Squire’s home heard a scream which she said “sounded like someone being attacked”.
A police spokeswoman said: “We have received hundreds of calls from members of the public offering information and their assistance, and we are extremely grateful for everyone’s help.
“Our house-to-house inquiries are continuing and we are visiting residents to speak to people and take statements as part of the ongoing investigation.”
As the search entered its fifth day, officers from the police regional marine unit searched a pond at Oak Road Playing Fields, near to Miss Squire’s home.
Four officers waded through the waist-deep water, using sticks to break the ice and search beneath the surface.
“Hundreds of students, University of Hull staff, as well as members of the public, have been helping our officers since she was reported missing.”
On Tuesday evening, around 200 students and staff gathered in the rain at the University of Hull to show solidarity and support for Miss Squire, her family and friends.
Vice-Chancellor Professor Susan Lea thanked the crowd for all their help in searching for Miss Squire.
She said: “This real sense of community is something I think is quite special here in Hull.”
Miss Squire’s close friends are believed to have left the university temporarily to return home after her disappearance.
Police said they were supporting Miss Squire’s parents, Russell and Lisa Squire, who spoke on Monday of their heartbreak at not knowing where their daughter is.
Both parents urged Miss Squire to contact them.
Mrs Squire said: “We just want to know that you are safe. Please get in touch with us any way you can.”
Mr Squire added: “We just want you home.”
The family had previously said that the student’s disappearance is “very out-of-character” and that she is a “very thoughtful and caring young woman who puts others before herself”.
Police revealed on Monday that they had found Miss Squire’s mobile phone at her home but that it had not helped to provide any information about where she went on Thursday night.
They said they had also obtained and viewed hundreds of hours of CCTV footage to try to trace the student’s movements and identify anyone who may be of interest to the investigation.
Police and Miss Squire’s family urged anyone with information to come forward.
