A drone operated by Lowland Search and Rescue has been deployed on the Isle of Wight again today (Saturday) as part of the continued search for missing Joanna Orpin.
It has been 5 days since the 42-year-old went missing from her home in Ryde, sparking a major search operation involving Police, HM Coastguard, WightSAR, Bembridge RNLI, Sandown Lifeboat, the Police Marine Unit and the National Police Air Service helicopter.
WightSAR and Police are once again searching Culver Cliff – with the assistance of drone operators from Hampshire and Surrey – for any clues which may led them to discovering the whereabouts of Joanna. They are hoping to find personal possessions.
The story so far…
Joanna Orpin was captured on CCTV entering the Premier store on Marlborough Road, Ryde at 07:20 on Tuesday morning. She purchased cigarettes and a lighter.
Just 2-and-a-half hours later Joanna’s car – a black Audi – was found parked on Culver Down by family and friends. It is here that a 46-year-old man was arrested – he was later released without charge with no further action to be taken.
Police are yet to comment on why family members decided to head to Culver and why an arrest was made.
By 10:30 on Tuesday a large number of search and rescue resources had been deployed to Culver and Yaverland. Specialist search advisors, dog units and drones have been brought over from the mainland.
Police are keen to hear from anyone, such as dog walkers, who may have seen Joanna in the area of Culver Down between 07:00 and 10:00 on Tuesday. If you have any information relating to this case, contact Police on 101 quoting reference ‘44180058184’.
