Police made the discovery of a body on Sunday after five-day search for Jenny Hall, a keen fell runner from Tow Law, Co Durham. Her family have been informed of the development
Tributes have been paid to the ‘truly wonderful’ long distance runner and ‘beautiful soul’ after a body was found by police searching for her. Jenny Hall, 23, a keen fell runner, was last seen leaving her home in Tow Law, Co Durham just after 3pm last Tuesday.
Mountain rescue teams carried out extensive searches over the weekend, working “around the clock” in areas between Eggleston and Stanhope after her car was found parked by the roadside. Durham Constabulary confirmed that officers found a body in a very remote area of Teesdale, just after 9.30am on Sunday. A police spokesperson confirmed Jenny’s family have been notified and were being supported by specialist officers.
Tributes described her as an “amazing” person. Durham Fell Runners told how Jenny would be “forever” in the thoughts of her friends. They said: “Jenny was a well-loved member of our running club; a beautiful person inside and out, a bright spark, fiercely independent, and a joy to be around. We would like to extend a huge thanks to the Mountain Rescue teams and the police who worked so tirelessly to find her. These images were taken on a sunset run last spring up above Hamsterley Forest. She will be forever in our minds, surrounded by the stunning light that we experienced on this evening. Sending our deepest condolences to all Jenny’s family and friends.”
Mariagrazia Panaccio, one of Jenny’s training partners, said: “A truly wonderful amazing girl, fittest woman I have ever met. It was fun, joy, laughter training with you. I have been so lucky to get given the chance to share part of my life with you. I will treasure those memories in my heart forever. We will miss you, Jenny Hall.
A spokesperson for Pure Human, a fitness training company, said: “Unbelievably sad news. Jenny was an amazing human, who will be massively missed by everyone who had the pleasure to know her.” On behalf of all of us at Esk Valley Fell Club we were saddened to learn of your loss over the weekend. We will be sure to have Jenny in our thoughts as we take to the Fells this week. Catrin Halliley added: “Devastating news. She was such a beautiful soul.”
Jenny’s red Ford Focus was found parked on the B6278 in remote moorland between Eggleston and Stanhope on Wednesday. The search had centred on a 4,942 acre forest popular with joggers. In a statement, Durham police said: “We’re sorry to report that officers searching for missing woman Jenny Hall, have sadly found a body. Officers carried out an extensive search alongside specialist partners and have been working around-the-clock to locate Jenny after she went missing on February 18. The body was found in a very remote area in Teesdale just after 9.30am on Sunday. Formal identification has yet to take place. Jenny’s family have been notified and are currently being supported by specialist officers. They have asked for privacy at this devastating time. It is not believed there are any suspicious circumstances and a file will be prepared for the coroner.”
Police thanked the expert mountain rescue teams who had been working ‘intensively’ alongside officers on the ground. Ms Hall, a keen runner, was described as 6ft (1.8m) tall with very long dark hair and was last seen wearing a blue hoodie with a John Deere logo and dark jogging bottoms. Durham Police officers were working in Hamsterley Forest, where Ms Hall was known to run, and the surrounding areas. Hamsterley Forest was created by Forestry England in the 1920s. It is popular with walkers and cyclists. Spanning 4,942 acres (2,000ha), it is the largest woodland in County Durham and is located about 16 miles (26km) from Tow Law. It attracts about 200,000 visitors a year, according to Forestry England. The search had focused on the running trails Ms Hall frequently used, with seven drones, around 60 mountain rescue volunteers and 10 of their dogs deployed over the weekend. Teesdale and Weardale Search and Mountain Rescue Team (TWSMRT) said its teams had searched over 60 miles (96.5km) of paths and tracks in Hamsterley Forest