DETECTIVES investigating the murder of Jia Ashton have found her handbag in the woods where her body was discovered.
The body of the 25-year-old, of Somercotes, was found in woodland by a mountain rescue team last weekend.
Police still want to speak to anyone who was in Sleetmoor Wood on Thursday, March 10, between 4pm and 7pm as they believe several possible witnesses are yet to come forward – including a motorcyclist who has not been traced.
The body of Mrs Ashton, who went missing after leaving work at the nearby Thorntons HQ in Somercotes, was found at about 4.30pm on Sunday, March 13.
Derbyshire Police said officers finished searching the woods on Saturday.
Her handbag was found but detectives believe some of her belongings might still be unaccounted for.
Detective Chief Superintendent Steve Cotterill said: "It was a painstaking search but we have recovered Mrs Ashton's handbag. It will now undergo forensic tests, the results of which we can expect next week.
"I can't be totally confident that all of Mrs Ashton's belongings are accounted for because we can't be sure exactly what property was in her bag when she left her work at Thorntons on the evening of her death.
"We know the woods are well used, particularly by dog walkers and joggers, and witnesses have described seeing other people in the woods that day but for whatever reason, these people have not been in touch.
"We would also like to speak to a motorcyclist using the woods that evening. I want to assure them that they are not in any sort of trouble, we just need to find out whether or not they saw anything that could help with our investigation."
Mr Cotterill also said that rumours of a second body being found were untrue.
He added: "I would like to reassure residents that this is not the case. This is merely speculation, which is totally unfounded."
Meanwhile, police have confirmed Mrs Ashton's husband Matthew checked into a Travelodge hotel on the day she died.
Derbyshire Police refused to comment on speculation the couple had had a row. A spokeswoman also denied there was any evidence suggesting Mrs Ashton had been talking to an American man online via a webcam.
She said: "We have no information to suggest that was the case. However, we have seized her computer from her home, as is normal in any murder investigation."
Officers visited the Travelodge in Alfreton early last week; forensic work had been carried out in the room used by Mr Ashton and CCTV footage had been studied.
She said, however, that Mr Ashton was not being treated as a suspect in the murder investigation.
Police have confirmed Mr Ashton's father John, 61, is married to Mrs Ashton's mother and they live together in England.
Mrs Ashton, who was wearing a grey herringbone-patterned coat and black trousers, left work at Thorntons at 5pm on March 10 and walked along a path in Sleetmoor Woods that is known locally as the Yellow Brick Road. There were no confirmed sightings of her after that time.
A friend of Mrs Ashton's, who did not want to be named, said she was a "lovely girl".
She last saw Mrs Ashton around three weeks ago when she was excited about the new Jack Russell puppy she had bought.
She said she did not understand how anybody could hurt her. "Jia was a really lovely girl," she said. "She was such a gentle, placid person. Absolutely lovely."
Over the weekend, a mobile police van was parked outside Thorntons in the hope more people would come forward.
More than 1,000 motorists and pedestrians were stopped and questioned by police around the Alfreton Trading Estate, Somercotes, between 4pm and 7pm on Thursday.
Derbyshire Police said 90 officers and staff were involved in the investigation.
Anyone who can help the police should ring the incident room on 0345 123 3333 or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
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