Mourners hold pink balloons at moving funeral for murdered 'shining light' Leah
Mourners gathered for the funeral of Leah Croucher today, whose remains were found inside a loft after vanishing in February 2019.
The 19-year-old, described as a "shining light" by her family was seen on CCTV walking to work at around 8:15am on the morning of February 14 - before her loved ones suffered a desperate three-and-a-half years wait for answers.
Tragically the young woman's body was found found in a loft in Loxbeare Drive, Milton Keynes - with convicted sex offender Neil Maxwell named as the main suspect.
However, cowardice Maxwell had taken his own life just two months after Leah had gone missing.
Today, the Milton Keynes community came out in droves to pay tribute to Leah ahead at her funeral.
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Hundreds of mourners lined the streets as a cortege travelled from the Emerson Valley area where Leah grew up to her final resting place at Crownhill Crematorium.
Leah Croucher vanished on February 14, 2019, while walking to work (PA)It followed a three-mile route from White Horse Drive to the crematorium, reports BuckimghamshireLive.
Leah's coffin was transported in a horsedrawn carriage along Fulmer Street and Dansteed Way. A hearse and her family followed closely before the cortege arrived at the crematorium.
Some onlookers awaiting the funeral procession greeted it with balloons for Leah. The balloons were adorned with messages on either side, with one saying "fly high Leah" and the other side reading "reach for the stars Leah".
Many sobbed and bowed their heads as an undertaker walked in front of a horse-drawn hearse.
The funeral cortege for murder victim Leah Croucher makes its way to Crownhill Crematorium in Milton Keynes (PA)
The horses were draped in flags bearing the crest of Hogwarts house Gryffindor from the Harry Potter franchise.
In Furzton, near Leah's home, the Church of the Servant King was open to those wishing to take a moment of reflection. Candles were lit and tributes were written in her memory.
The family of Leah Croucher set up a Just Giving page to raise donations. Any donations given will be put towards charity Missing People.
The charity has helped the Croucher family over the last four years with appeals, publicity, legal advice and family support.
Mourners line the streets as some hold pink balloons (PA)With Leah's funeral today, her family has asked for Buckhamshire residents not to not send flowers.
Mum appeared 'completely normal' moments before vanishing while walking dog
They would like residents to instead "consider giving to this wonderful charity" to ensure everyone who is affected by those gone missing receive the same care and support as they did. For more information, visit their Just Giving page here.
Leah's body was found last October at a loft in Loxbeare Drive, Milton Keynes, following her disappearance in 2019.
Detectives had earlier found a rucksack and other belongings of Leah's at the house.
The father of Leah Croucher, John Croucher (far left), as the funeral cortege for murder victim Leah Croucher makes it way to Crownhill Crematorium (PA)Leah vanished while walking to work in February 2019.
She was last seen on CCTV in Buzzacott Lane, Furzton, just after 8.15am, walking in the direction of Loxbeare Drive and Chaffron Way.
Her family was struck by further tragedy when Miss Croucher's brother, Haydon Croucher, died at the age of 24 in November 2019.
His mother said he had found the disappearance of his sister "very difficult".
The parents of Leah Croucher, Claire and John Croucher, seen as the funeral cortege for murder victim Leah Croucher makes it way to Crownhill Crematorium in Milton Keyne (PA)Last October Leah's family released a tribute in her memory, saying they were experiencing the "deepest, darkest grief".
They said: "Leah had so much to achieve in her life, milestones that will now never be met. Family holidays, marriage, children, promotion, having her own home. So many ‘could have beens’…
"The void left in our lives after Leah’s disappearance was immense, a pain almost too big to bear. However, there is little that compares to the deep chasm Leah’s death has brought to us.
The mother of Leah Croucher, Claire Croucher (PA)"Leah was a bright, funny young woman who was a kind, loyal, helpful and caring soul. Her smile lit up the room and her laugh cheered all who heard it. Leah had a wonderful sense of humour, who found joy in everything she did.
"Leah was a second Dan black belt, a national and European champion in the world of Taekwondo. She enjoyed coaching the next generation of champions at the family club she ran with her dad.
"Leah’s presence and warmth impacted on all who knew her, her disappearance has impacted on an entire city and beyond.
The funeral cortege for murder victim Leah Croucher (PA)"The world and our lives are darker for losing her in the prime of life. Solace is found in the belief that Leah will only finally die when the last of us who remember her dies and Leah will hopefully be remembered by a lot of people for many years to come.
"We were able to love you for 19 wonderful years Leah and make amazing memories together as a family, memories that we hope will be sufficient to carry us through the dark and lonely years we have to come.
We hope soon that we will be able to look at pictures of you again, but they are too painful to even think about at the moment.
A woman walking her dog pauses as the funeral cortege passes (PA)Give Haydon a big kiss and a big hug from us baby, we miss and love you both so much, but hope that you are together now, looking out for each other as always."
Heavily convicted Neil Maxwell - jailed in 2009 for rape - was unmasked as the main focus of the probe into 19-year-old Leah's gruesome death.
Police revealed the deviant was wanted for another serious sexual assault when he took his own life on April 20, 2019, just weeks after Leah vanished in February 2019.
Neil Maxwell, who was named as the main suspect in the investigation into the murder of Leah Croucher (PA)Maxwell was working as a handyman at the £500,000 property where the admin assistant's remains were discovered on Monday. He was the only one to have keys for the property.
Exclusive interviews obtained by the Daily Mirror reveal Maxwell has a long history of offending - with cops warned more than a decade ago that he would carry out murder.
One former boss said he told detectives in 2009: "He is one evil f*****, he's going to kill someone."
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