The body of a teenager found buried in a graveyard has been formally identified as 17-year-old Jayden Parkinson. Thames Valley Police said further tests would be carried out to establish exactly how the teenager died.
Her remains were discovered in a recently disturbed grave in the cemetery of All Saints' Church, Didcot, Oxfordshire on Wednesday. "The body of a teenager who was found in an established grave in the Great Western Cemetery next to All Saints' Church, Didcot on Wednesday night has been formally identified as Jayden Parkinson, aged 17, of Iffley Road, Oxford," a police spokesman said.
"Results of the post-mortem examination are inconclusive with further toxicology reports pending."
Jayden's ex-boyfriend Ben Blakeley, 22, appeared in court earlier this week. Blakeley, of Christchurch Road, Reading, has been charged with her murder and perverting the course of justice and is due to appear at Oxford Crown Court for a plea hearing on March 17 next year.
A 17-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, has also been charged with perverting the course of justice between December 3 and December 10 by assisting in the disposal of Jayden's body and other evidence. Jayden's mother, Samantha Shrewsbury, took to Twitter to pay tribute to her daughter.
"My Beautiful Baby Girl Love You Now And Forever xxxxxxxxxxxx," she wrote. She also posted: "Miss that smile bby xxxxxxz." And she added later: "As you know Jayden has been found our family would like to thank those for all your support and kind words xx."
Forensic officers at the scene at Great Western Cemetery by All Saints' Church in Didcot
The teenager's father Paul Parkinson paid tribute to her in a brief message posted on Facebook. He wrote: "Good nite baby girl I will miss you so much I love you always xxxxxxxx."
On Thursday, the detective leading the hunt for Jayden said her family were "heartbroken" and "devastated". Detective Chief Superintendent Andy Murray said: "We had prepared Jayden's family for the worst but I am afraid nothing can prepare you for the loss of your child.
"They remain heartbroken, they remain devastated and our thoughts are with them at this time. " The discovery came after a team of more than 100 officers and detectives, backed by specialists from the National Crime Agency, spent much of the past week carrying out intensive forensic searches at several sites in and around Didcot and the nearby village of Upton.
On Tuesday, Mr Murray said police had received "significant and highly relevant information" which led police to focus their efforts on a specific grave in the churchyard. The teenager, who had recently moved to Oxford, was last seen leaving Didcot railway station at 4.27pm on December 3.
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Police said there was "no indication" she was still alive, revealing Jayden had not used her mobile phone or accessed her bank account in the days since she had been reported missing. Officers had previously issued an appeal for information about a man seen struggling with a suitcase just outside Upton at about 2am on Monday December 9.
A search of farmland on the outskirts of the village took place following the sighting. Officers said the same man was seen with the same suitcase in the Lydalls Road area of Didcot - where All Saints is located - at about 3.30am the same day. Detectives have since recovered several suitcases, one of which "may well be significant", according to Mr Murray.
Police also confirmed that during the course of their investigation it was suggested Jayden might have been pregnant at the time of her disappearance.