Missing 13-year-old Lillia found safe after eight days

Lillia, aged 13, was found safe and well on Saturday, September 19, after an extensive search involving police, her family and members of the public.

Officers located her during a dedicated proactive patrol in the city centre, Greater Manchester Police said.

The teenager had been missing since Friday, September 11, with officers tracking her movements and following reported sightings across Greater Manchester.

Chief Superintendent Helen Critchley, Bolton District Commander, said: “I want to thank the public, not just in Greater Manchester but throughout the whole of the country for their submissions of information through our online public portal, via the phone lines and everyone who shared our appeals online.”

Superintendent Helen Critchley delivered a previous statement in the company of Lillia’s mum (Image: NQ)

Police said Lillia was last seen at Manchester Piccadilly bus station on Monday, September 14, at 10.36am before she was found on Saturday.

Her movements had been traced through a number of sightings, including reports of her using the bus network.

She was first seen after her disappearance on Saturday, September 12, when she boarded the 247 bus at the Trafford Centre.

Police then said she was seen entering McDonald’s on Market Street in Piccadilly Gardens at about 8.20pm on Sunday, September 13.

She was later seen boarding the number 36 bus from Salford at about 10am on Monday, September 14.

Officers then received the final confirmed sighting of her walking through Manchester Piccadilly bus station at 10.36am that morning.

Ch Supt Critchley said: “Without your support, we would not have been able to track Lillia down and bring her home safely.”

Officers and staff had worked alongside partners throughout the investigation, including reviewing hours of CCTV footage and distributing hundreds of missing person leaflets.

(Image: Bolton Police)

Police also issued several social media appeals and worked with media organisations to circulate Lillia’s picture and details.

Ch Supt Critchley added: “I would also like to extend my thanks to the officers who located her while out on proactive patrols, as well as the many officers and staff behind the scenes working to further the investigation.

“We have engaged with every police officer in the force who have been on duty since she has been missing and circulated her image to them, in the hope that one of them would be able to recognise her.”

Police said officers noticed someone who looked like Lillia while on patrol before speaking to her and establishing her identity.

She was seen in Manchester (Image: GMP)

Her mum and the rest of her family have been updated following her discovery.

Ch Supt Critchley said: “Thankfully, officers noticed someone that looked like her and engaged and ascertained it was Lillia.

“The role of the media cannot be understated as well, the sharing of appeals, pictures and the press conference we held with Lillia’s mum hitting TV screens has been a massive help, I cannot thank them enough.”

She also paid tribute to Lillia’s mum following the eight day search.

Ch Supt Critchley added: “Finally, I would like to finish by paying tribute to Lillia’s mum who has worked with us throughout this investigation, she has shown incredible strength in what has been eight days of torture for her and her family.

(Image: Bolton Police)

“We have kept her updated throughout and it gives me immense pleasure that we can reunite her with her little girl.”

Police said they were asking for privacy and respect to be given to Lillia and her family following what had been a difficult period.

Ch Supt Critchley added: “In what will be a truly emotional time, I would request that Lillia, her mum and her family are given the privacy and respect they deserve following an incident such as this.”