A BODY found on a beach in Scotland was that of a talented York schoolgirl, police have confirmed.
Investigations are continuing into the disappearance and death of Jasmine Macquaker, 14.
The teenager, a Year 10 pupil at Queen Margaret's School in Escrick, was reported missing after failing to return to the boarding school on Sunday night.
She was last been seen getting off a train from Waverley Station in Edinburgh to Dalmeny, near South Queensferry on the south side of the Firth of Forth, at 8.30pm on Sunday.
A body was found on Monday on the shore at North Queensferry, near the northern end of the Forth Road and Rail Bridges, and police confirmed on Tuesday that it was Jasmine's.
Queen Margaret's confirmed Jasmine was a pupil at the school but declined to comment further, at the request of Jasmine's family.
Queen Margaret's School in Escrick
Police said Jasmine’s parents, city fund manager Charles and his wife Sarah, had “requested that their privacy be respected at this very difficult time”.
In a statement released through Police Scotland, her family said: “Mr and Mrs Macquaker have been appraised with all the facts concerning Jasmine’s last hours.
"They are extremely grateful for all the support from the police in this tragic case as well as support from friends. At this stage, understandably, they request that everyone respect their privacy to grieve in peace at this very difficult time.”
Jasmine, who was from the Stockbridge area of Edinburgh, moved to Queen Margaret's School in Year 9. Queen Margaret's is a boarding school for girls aged 11 to 18.
After Jasmine was reported missing, specialist police teams scoured the area and an urgent public appeal was issued just after 5am calling for information on her whereabouts.
The death is being treated as “unexplained”, and a post-mortem examination will take place.
She had attended Edinburgh’s Cargilfield School before winning an art scholarship 18 months ago.
She was overall winner of the National Schools’ Handwriting Competition last year, and in 2013 entered the Saatchi Gallery Art Prize for schools with a Picasso-inspired charcoal drawing.
The teenager was also a keen athlete and former member of Inverleith Swimming Club, and took part in the Yorkshire Regional Biathlon Championships in October 2014.
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