Body found in search for Mackenzie Crook's missing-in-law identified

Body found in the search for Mackenzie Crook’s missing sister-in-law is formally identified as the 62-year-old who vanished from her home

• Laurel Aldridge, 62, vanished from her home in West Sussex on February 14
• Police discovered a body on Saturday, and it is now confirmed to be Ms Aldridge
• Actor Mackenzie Crook had launched a huge appeal to help find his sister-in-law 

A body found in the search for a missing woman has been formally identified as that of Laurel Aldridge.

The 62-year-old sister-in-law of actor Mackenzie Crook was reported missing from her home in the village of Walberton, near Arundel in West Sussex, on February 14, after she missed a chemotherapy session for her cancer.

Following an 11-day search, police said on Saturday that a body was found in the Tortington Lane area of the town.

Formal identification has now taken place, Sussex Police confirmed on Thursday.

Following the discovery, Ms Aldridge’s son Matthew described her as ‘a wonderful, creative, fiercely-intelligent person, who taught us all the meaning of empathy, dependability, and love.’

Laurel Aldridge, 62, was reported missing in February after she missed a scheduled chemotherapy session

A body found by police has been formally identified as that of Mackenzie Crook’s (left, pictured with wife Lindsay) missing sister-in-law

It comes after actor Crook launched a huge appeal to help find Ms Aldridge, asking members of the public to check their gardens and outhouses, or anywhere else she may have sought shelter. 

Mr Aldridge said: ‘After a long and exhausting search, today we found Laurel. We can share that she was found lying in a beautiful woodland and she is now at peace.

‘We will miss her every day, but we are so proud of everything she achieved in her 62 years on this earth. Laurel was a wonderful, creative, fiercely-intelligent person, who taught us all the meaning of empathy, dependability, and love.

‘We as a family are broken by what has happened, but we have each other, we have our friends, and we have the support of the local community, who have so kindly rallied around us during this difficult time. We will never forget what you have done for us.

‘For the time being, we are asking for privacy so that we can be together as a family and process our loss.’

On Saturday, a spokesperson for Sussex Police said: ‘Sadly the body of a woman has been found in the Tortington Lane area of Arundel.

‘At this stage, the family of missing Laurel Aldridge have been informed and we are seeking to confirm the identity of the woman.’

The actor – who is known for roles in The Office, Pirates Of The Caribbean and Worzel Gummidge – had made public appeals to find his wife’s sister and said her disappearance was ‘agonising’ for the family. 

Crook, whose wife Lindsay is Ms Aldridge’s sister, also told ITV that her disappearance was ‘very out of character’ and that his family was ‘obviously really worried’. 

Mackenzie Crook launched a huge appeal to try and find Ms Aldridge after her disappearance

A large-scale police investigation took place for 11 days until the tragic discovery on Saturday

Speaking on Good Morning Britain on Tuesday, the actor said he had seen ‘nothing but determination and stoicism’ from the family during the search.

On the day she went missing, Mrs Aldridge was captured by her doorbell as she left her home, but the alarm was raised after she missed a scheduled session of chemotherapy.

Ms Aldridge was last seen later that day at Slindon Cricket Club, around two-and-a-half miles away.

A large-scale police investigation had been taking place into her disappearance, with officers conducting house-to-house enquiries and specialist search dogs deployed.

A police helicopter, drones and specialist teams were also used.

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