8,000 hours spent looking for Louise Smith in woods – but killer knew where body was

Detective Inspector Adam Edwards, from Hampshire police, said it was a ‘massive challenge’ for officers.

Some 306 people were involved in the search for 16-year-old Louise, and Havant Thicket was searched for 8,250 hours alone.

Evidence recovered in the probe included Shane Mays’ white Adidas trainers with Louise’s blood on them, a stick at the scene with his DNA on it, and page upon page of phone data and messages.

Yesterday Mrs Justice Juliet May commended Det Insp Adams and his team for their work.

SEE ALSO: Recap updates as Shane Mays was jailed for killing Louise Smith

He told The News: ‘It was a really huge investigation for us, particularly the search aspect and review of CCTV we undertook.

‘We spent 8,250 hours searching out in Havant Thicket, firstly for Louise and then secondly for the evidence we believed to be there that contributed to us being able to take this to court.

‘Above and beyond that there’s thousands of hours of CCTV that were reviewed, and over 1,000 individual lines of enquiry attributed to the investigation needed to be progressed before we could take it (to court).’

He said he hopes Louise’s family have ‘seen that justice has been done’ but it will affect them for the rest of their lives.

Mays, 30, who has learning disabilities and a personality disorder, admitted using both fists while repeatedly punching Louise standing over her body on the ground at Havant Thicket.

He used an accelerant to later set fire to her body, which was found defiled 13 days after the May 8 murder on May 21.

Mays said he felt her bones crack as he punched her and in court said: ‘I lost control of myself. She made a moaning noise, that’s when I stopped.’

The judge ruled he also hit her or hit her against a log in the clearing.

Prosecutors suggested he lured her there with the promise of cannabis, having been banned from smoking.

His wife Chazlynn Mays, who is said to have anxiety and rarely left their flat in Ringwood House, Somborne Drive in Leigh Park, was twice arrested – for kidnap and assisting and offender – but faced no further action.

A Hampshire police spokesman yesterday said the probe had now ended.

He said: ‘This investigation has now concluded.’

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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