Missing girl found dead
2004-07-21 17:50
Johannesburg - The body of Leigh Matthews, believed to have been kidnapped almost two weeks ago, was found on Wednesday, police confirmed.
Johannesburg police spokesperson Superintendent Chris Wilken told Sapa her body was found in open veld south of Johannesburg about 15:30.
He said police would issue a full statement on the matter "as soon as the investigation at the scene has been completed".
Johannesburg police area commissioner Oswald Reddy expressed sympathy for the Matthews family.
"The police will make use of all the expertise in the service to bring the perpetrators to book," he said.
Twenty-one-year-old Leigh was held to ransom after she disappeared from outside Bond University in Sandton on the morning of July 9.
The last time her family heard from her was when her captors allowed her to speak to them from her cellphone that afternoon.
"She told me to follow the instructions not to involve the police and that she was not hurt," father Rob Matthews told journalists the next day.
He dropped off money as requested by her captors, but his child was not returned.
Since then, a massive hunt for Leigh has been in progress throughout the country.
A reward was offered for information leading to her safe return, and a call centre was set up to deal with the "overwhelming" response from the public.
Matthews is an IT executive. He and his family live in Fourways.
He told reporters at the briefing he had no idea why his child had been targeted.
Leigh's 21st birthday party was planned for the day after she was kidnapped.
- SAPA