Katie Kenyon murder suspect enters no plea in court over missing mother-of-two

Police searching for missing Burnley mother-of-two Katie Kenyon had today zeroed in on an area of woodland – as her ex-boyfriend made no plea as he appeared in court today charged with her murder.

Ms Kenyon, 33, was last seen at around 9.30am on Friday when it is thought she travelled in a van which left Burnley towards the Bolton-by-Bowland area of north Lancashire.

This lunchtime two blue forensic tents were put up in a spot in Gisburn Forest, Lancs, as the search continued.

Typically the structures can be used to protect forensic evidence, but may also be staked out to provide cover for equipment.

Andrew Burfield, 50, was charged on Wednesday with her murder and was before Blackburn Magistrates’ Court at 10am. He entered no plea and will appear at Preston Crown Court tomorrow.

The family of care worker Ms Kenyon, from Padiham, have thanked well wishers for their support but have asked that people respect their privacy.

More than 60 specialist search officers from four police forces have been scouring an area of dense forest land in Lancashire looking for Ms Kenyon. The hunt involved police and fire service officers, dog teams, mounted police, mountain rescue volunteers and drones.

Police have today confirmed that the search, which was provisionally scheduled to go on until at least Friday, is still continuing.   

The blue structures can be used to protect forensic evidence, but may also be staked out to provide cover for equipment

Katie Kenyon, 33, was last seen at around 9.30am on Friday when it is thought she travelled in a van which left Burnley towards the Bolton-by-Bowland area of north Lancashire

Andrew Burfield, 50, was charged on Wednesday with her murder and was before Blackburn Magistrates’ Court at 10am

Burfield was covered with a grey top of some sort but his nose and part of his face could be seen peeking from below the cloth

Police teams are seen searching areas in Gisburn Forest, Lancashire, on Wednesday as they looked for Ms Kenyon

Forensics officers are seen in Gisburn Forest, Lancashire, on Wednesday afternoon. The search was provisionally scheduled to go on until at least Friday

Scores of officers were yesterday seen scouring the 3,000-acre Gisburn Forest in the Ribble Valley, some 23 miles from Todmorden Road, in Ms Kenyon’s home town of Burnley, where she was last seen parking her white Ford Fiesta at 9.15am on Friday.

Detective Superintendent Gary Brooks, Lancashire Police’s Head of Major Crime, had said on Tuesday: ‘We are continuing to search a number of different locations in connection with this investigation, including at Gisburn Forest and I am grateful to colleagues from Merseyside and North Wales, and other emergency service partners who are offering assistance in the these complex and wide-scale searches.

‘I am aware that many members of the public have offered to help us in those searches and while I am grateful for that I would dissuade anyone from doing so. 

A team of specialist search officers from four police forces and sniffer dogs scoured a beauty spot miles from her home

Specialist emergency teams search an area of Gisburn Forest in the Ribble Valley on Tuesday for mother Katie Kenyon

‘The area we are searching is very large and remote with no phone signal. 

‘The police teams are trained professionals who are used to doing this sort of work and I would hate for someone to get lost or come to harm while trying to help. Please leave it to us.’

Forces from across the north west had been drafted in to help the search, which is expected to last until at least Friday.

Police on horseback were on patrol across the many footpaths that weave through the woods.