- This story will be updated constantly throughout the day. Please refresh your browser for the latest updates.
2pm: In a mark of solidarity women across Australia are posting pictures of their weddings dresses on hangers as a tribute to Stephanie Scott.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The hashtag #putyourdress out has been trending on social media.
The trend was sparked by the heart-wrenching wedding poem written by Ms Scott’s sister Kim.
1pm: Stephanie Scott’s sister Kim has shared a heart-wrenching poem on Facebook that she should have read today at Ms Scott’s wedding.
The poem shows the close bond the two women shared.
Hundreds of Ms Scott’s family, friends and Leeton community members have gathered in Mountford Park to remember the much-loved teacher.
11.35am: To see a snippet of the police press conference at Leeton Police Station press play.
9.45am: Police believe the remains found in Cocoparra National Park are those of Stephanie Scott.
It has been confirmed that the remains were burnt.
The remains will be transferred to Glebe, formally identified and examined by forensic police.
Fairfax Media understand the Scott family have vowed to go ahead with a planned picnic at Leeton’s Mountford Park today – the day Ms Scott should have been married.
11.00pm: Police investigating the murder of 26-year-old Leeton teacher Stephanie Scott have located a body north of Griffith.
The body of a female was found in Cocopaara National Park at 5pm today.
Police have established a crime scene and forensic police are continuing to investigate the area. Full story here
5.30pm: On the day Stephanie Scott was supposed to marry the love of her life, Aaron Leeson-Wooley, family and friends will instead mourn the bright 26-year-old for at Leeton’s Mountford Park.
The families of the couple have invited Ms Scott’s family and friends to gather for lunch at 12pm.
Guests have been asked to wear yellow and bring something to sit on and something to eat.
3.40pm: Light has flooded the small community of Leeton in it’s darkest hour with thousands of mourners lighting candles for Stephanie Scott.
#Lightforsteph is continuing to gather momentum in the town.
Community members are tagging photographs of candles in instagram and Facebook posts.
Mourners wrote of the future Ms Scott has been robbed of, saying their hearts broke for her, her family and Leeton.
Coleambally’s Sammi Blackett pleaded with the community to “keep them burning until she comes home”.
2.45pm: Stephanie Scott’s former soccer coach has expressed his sadness at her murder.
Steven Wait, coach of the Tolland Wolves, said Ms Scott had made a huge impact on the club, bringing it back from the brink of collapse in 2009.
On Thursday night members of the club gathered to mourn Ms Scott and reflect on her loving, vivacious and kind nature.
The club has vowed to honour Ms Scott through a yet-to-be determined tribute.
Her number 10 jersey will be retired. Full story here
The Leeton community continue to pay tribute to Ms Scott as they come to terms with her devastating death. Gallery here
1.30pm: The search is continuing for evidence relating to Stephanie Scott’s murder. Gallery here
The town of Leeton is awash with grief with thousands of mourners lighting candles for Ms Scott.
Yellow ribbons, fluttering in the wind, adorn the gate of Leeton High School, where Ms Scott worked.
A tsunami of tributes continue to flood social media, with more than 11,000 people joining the CandlesforStephanieScott Facebook page.
The GoFundMe Stephanie Scott Community Fund has so far raised $14,600 with 269 people donating since it was set up yesterday.
On Thursday Leeton organiser Brad McKinnon said he was overwhelmed at the amount of money raised.
“It’s going to go a long way to help the family out on a lot of things,” he said.
“It’s a community support and it’s great that people are already helping the family out.”
12.30pm: More information has emerged regarding this morning’s canal search.
The Sydney Morning Herald’s Emma Partridge has filed this:
Police divers have pulled what appears to be a red laptop from an irrigation canal near Leeton during their search for school teacher Stephanie Scott.
The divers targeted the canal a few kilometres outside the NSW Riverina town after a witness reported seeing a man throw something into the water on Easter Monday.
The witness, who gave his name as Brendan, said the man appeared to be wearing a baseball cap.
Divers were scouring the murky water on Friday as part of a broader search of the area following the death of 26-year-old Ms Scott.
A photograph was also released on Friday morning of a white ute police seized as part of the murder investigation.
There was no suggestion they had discovered the body of Ms Scott.
A police officer remains on the bank of the irrigation canal, holding an orange line to support the divers in the water.
Up to a dozen members of the Leeton Volunteer Rescue Association are also doing a line search down Griffith Road, not far from the field where Ms Scott's red Mazda was found abandoned on Wednesday morning.
"Police are appealing for anyone who saw this vehicle between Sunday and Wednesday to call Leeton Police or Crime Stoppers 1800 333 000," a police statement said.
Just after 10am on Friday, three divers stopped in the irrigation canal to take underwater photos and video.
State Emergency Service volunteers are searching a nearby vineyard at Stanbridge. Police were seen placing forensic markers through the vineyard on Thursday, and officers guarded the scene overnight.
As the large-scale search continues, Leeton has rallied to raise money to find Ms Scott's body and bring her home to Mr Leeson-Woolley, who was supposed to marry his partner of five years on Saturday, before 100 friends and family.
Signs have started appearing in local shops with the hashtag #bringstephhome next to jars where people are donating money for the search effort.
Stacey Catlin, 18, is a former student of Ms Scott and struggled to hold back tears as she made coffees behind the counter of Stir Espresso at Leeton on Thursday.
She works for one of the many businesses who have put out a donation jar.
"She was my English teacher and she was a support to me in year 11 and 12. She had a really bubbly personality and would help with anything," she said.
12.20pm: Police have renewed their appeal for people to come forward if they noticed a white Toyota Hilux spacecab anywhere in the Leeton and greater Griffith area from Sunday onwards.
Anyone who saw this vehicle between Sunday and Wednesday is urged to call Leeton Police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
12.10pm: Griffith’s Superintendent Michael Rowan spoke to the media outside Leeton police station a short time ago.
WATCH the full conference here:
11.30am: Volunteers are searching Leeton High School, which has been declared a crime scene.
The Irrigator believes a laptop may have been discovered in an irrigation canal during searches conducted by investigators.
Superintendent Michael Rowan would not confirm or deny this discovery, but said a number of items have been found.
He said police are investigating whether Stephanie’s car has been dumped by the accused and whether he returned to Leeton on foot.
10am: A search is under way for the body of Stephanie Scott.
Members of the Leeton VRA rescue squad and SES are conducting line searches about five kilometres north-west of Leeton.
NSW Police divers are also conducting a search of an irrigation channel in the area.
Leeton VRA ’s Glen Hehir said 10 volunteers had given up their time to search for evidence.
Mr Hehir said after a briefing at 7am this morning volunteers were searching along the side of the road.
“We’ll keep going as long as we can,” Mr Hehir said.
“If we need to be, we’ll be here all day.”
He said the search on Friday morning had yet to uncover any evidence. FULL STORY.
