A 14-year-old girl absconded from school in Broadstairs and was later found dead in Snowdown, near Dover, prompting an inquest
Inquest Scheduled for 14-Year-Old Girl’s Death
An inquest will be held regarding the death of a 14-year-old girl whose body was found after she left school. Alicia Janes lived on Percy Avenue in Broadstairs. She was last seen by school and care staff before she ran away and was reported missing.
The alarm was raised shortly after 11:30 AM on June 27, when the teenager absconded from her school placement. Her body was discovered a few hours later in a play area in Snowdown, a hamlet near Dover.
The name of the school Alicia left has not been disclosed during the public inquest. However, Cross Keys Learning, which has locations in Broadstairs and Womenswold, was an interested party at a pre-inquest review held on Wednesday at Oakwood House in Maidstone.
Details of Alicia’s Care and Inquest
Alicia was in the care of the local authority through a Section 20 agreement. This is a voluntary arrangement where parents allow a local authority to provide accommodation for their child. Other attendees at the review included representatives from Fairport Care Services, North East London NHS Foundation Trust, Kent County Council, and Kent Police.
An inquest opening last year revealed that her body was found shortly before 2 PM off The Crescent in Snowdown. Area coroner Katrina Hepburn stated that Alicia had absconded from her school placement and was reported missing at 11:36 AM. She was last spoken to by school and care staff.
Findings and Next Steps
A member of the public found Alicia and alerted their parents. Another person discovered her hanging. The pre-inquest review this week confirmed that Alicia had been reported missing from school hours before her body was found. Police and paramedics were called to the play area in Snowdown, where she was pronounced dead.
At Wednesday’s hearing, assistant coroner Ian Brownhill mentioned the possibility of a jury for the case. The full inquest is expected to last at least five days. The matter was adjourned for another pre-inquest review, with a date yet to be determined.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Name | Alicia Janes |
| Age | 14 |
| Location of Body Found | Snowdown, near Dover |
| Date of Incident | June 27 |
| Time Reported Missing | 11:36 AM |
| Time Body Discovered | Before 2 PM |
| Inquest Duration | At least 5 days |
