School Cleaner Arrested For Bride-To-Be Stephanie Scott's Murder
A school cleaner, Vincent Stanford, 24 has been charged with the murder of a missing bride-to-be in NSW, Australia. The police reportedly found blood in a vehicle and a phone containing photographic evidence of the murder.
The cleaner was taken to a police station for questioning on Wednesday evening and charged with the murder of Stephanie Scott, 26, a drama and English teacher at Leeton High School on Thursday. As scheduled, Stanford did not appear in Griffith Local Court on Thursday afternoon, instead he was kept under the police custody. Ms. Scott went missing from school on Easter Sunday and was due to get married this Saturday.
Stanford’s legal representative is yet to apply for his bail. As of now, Stanford will remain in police custody and expected to appear in court via videolink in June. The police have confirmed to locate slain Ms. Scott’s car, besides one of the two crime scenes have also been secured. According to police, her car was located in a village called Wamoon, near the Leeton Shire. Though Ms. Scott's body is not found yet, the police are seeking public’s help for additional information regarding her disappearance.
The police informed that Ms. Scott was seen last at the school on Sunday morning, while those who knew her closely said her disappearance is not usual. During a brief conversation with Stanford’s neighbours in Leeton before his arrest, police realised, some of the neighbours found Stanford to be a quiet, pleasant man. While others expressed shock for living next door to a crime scene.
According to police, the helpless family had earlier planned to hire a helicopter to accompany the search team, however, given the circumstances now, the family wants complete privacy.
Left In Pain
Ms. Scott's mother, Merrilyn Scott said her daughter had been preparing for her wedding for a long time. She was due to get married to her childhood sweetheart, Aaron Leeson-Woolley on Saturday. "We went to the same school and lived in the same town, played in the same sporting teams," he said. They have started seeing each other five years ago.
Helping Hand
Meanwhile, anyone who was around Leeton High School on Sunday is requested to contact Griffith Police on (02) 6969 4310 or via Crime Stoppers.
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