Body Found Near Putney Pier Identified as Missing Teenager
19-year-old Samaria Ayanle was a university student
Samaria Ayanle. Picture: Met Police
March 14, 2024
The police have confirmed that a body recovered from the River Thames by Putney Pier last month is that of a missing teenager.
19-year-old Samaria Ayanle was last seen near her university accommodation close to Marble Arch in the early hours of 22 February. A few hours later, at 8:19am, her body was retrieved from the river after being spotted by a member of the public.
Her friends and family have been informed although formal identification has yet to take place.
She was reported missing by staff at SOAS University of London on Friday 8 March, where she was in her first year of studying for a BA in Japanese and the History of Art, the same day.
Initially the police were unable to identify her because the body did not match the description of any missing person recorded at the time and there was no personal property with her. Her fingerprints were not on any database. It was only five days after she was reported missing and the UK Missing Persons database was updated that they were able to identify her.
Ms Ayanle's death is being treated as unexplained and pending further inquiries.
Anyone with information that could help police should call 101 ref 01/60807/24. You can also share via @MetCC on X.
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