The partner of a mother-of-four who vanished from an idyllic Dorset village has been charged with her murder, even though her body has not been found.
Dorset police said Dominic Isom, 27, would appear before Bournemouth magistrates on Wednesday charged with murdering Samantha Henderson, 25.
Officers continued to search for the body on Tuesday, five days after Henderson was last seen outside the primary school in Corfe Castle, a popular tourist spot.
Senior investigating officer Neil Devoto, of Dorset police’s major crime investigation team, said the Crown Prosecution Service had authorised the charging of Isom.
He said: “Family liaison officers have updated Samantha’s family with this development. Clearly, this is a very difficult time for the whole family and they have requested privacy. Her children are being cared for by relatives.
“We now believe Samantha has come to harm. At this time her whereabouts are still unknown and our search for her body continues. Searches of the Corfe Castle village area are ongoing. Specialist search officers have been brought in from Dorset and neighbouring forces to continue searching an area of woodland off the A351 near Corfe Castle.
“This latest development does not mean we do not want to hear from members of the public if they have any information that could help with the investigation into Samantha’s death, no matter how seemingly insignificant.”
The last confirmed sighting of Henderson was at around 3pm on Wednesday 21 January outside Corfe Castle primary school in East Street. She was reported missing at 8.43pm the following day.
On Monday police released CCTV footage of Henderson in the Sweet Shop in the Square in the village just before noon on the day she vanished. Police have seized Henderson’s blue Peugeot 307 Estate car and are still keen to speak with anyone who saw the vehicle – registration HV04 ZFM – being driven between 3pm on Wednesday 21 January and 5pm on Friday 23 January.
At the weekend her family described her as a loving and hard-working mother and begged her to come home.
They said in a statement: “Sam is a homely, private, loving mother of four children aged six, four, two and one. She is hard-working, always presentable and this is completely out of character for her. She would never walk out and leave her children. If anyone knows where she is or what has happened, please contact the police.”
Isom was arrested on Friday on suspicion of murder.
Witnesses and anyone with information should call Dorset police in confidence on 101, quoting Operation Cavalier. Alternatively, call the free and anonymous Crimestoppers line on 0800 555 111
