Police have launched a murder investigation following the disappearance of a Colombian woman on Thursday, May 29. Yajaira Castro Mendez was last seen leaving her home in Ilford the same morning, and reported missing to the police two days later.

Today (Friday, June 6) a man known to Yajaira appeared in court charged with her murder. Scotland Yard has launched a witness appeal to uncover vital information about her disappearance.

Chief Superintendent Jason Stewart said: "Officers have been working around the clock to find Yajaira. She has not been seen or heard from by her family or friends since the date she was reported missing.

“Yajaira’s disappearance was initially treated as a missing person investigation led by local officers. The investigation was then transferred to the Met’s Spe

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