Averil Shepley: Family of missing woman notified after body found on Cramond island

Police say a body has been found during the search for a missing woman in Edinburgh.

The body was found on Cramond Island on Monday afternoon. There has not yet been a formal identification, but the family of Averil Shepley, 47, who was reported missing more than a fortnight ago, has been told of the discovery.

Ms Shepley was last seen in the Marchmont area of the city around 10.30pm on Friday 30 September. At the time she was reported missing, police said they believed she walked to Minto Street, hailed a taxi and travelled to Queensferry Road, near the junction with Queensferry Terrace, around 11pm. And they appealed to people in the Silverknowes, Davidson’s Mains and Queensferry Road areas to check dash-cams or any private CCTV cameras for any relevant footage that could help trace her.

A Police Scotland spokesperson said today: “Around 2.50pm on Monday 17 October, 2022, the body of a woman was found on Cramond Island as part of ongoing inquiries to locate a missing person. No formal identification has taken place. However, the family of 47-year-old Averil Shepley, reported missing from Edinburgh, has been notified. Officers remain at the scene and enquiries are ongoing.”