Farmer Makes Tragic Discovery as Week-Long Hunt for 38-Year-Old Mum-of-Two Ends
A body has been discovered in a field in Hassocks, West Sussex, during the desperate search for missing mother-of-two Rebecca Holdham, who vanished from her home exactly one week ago. Sussex Police confirmed the grim discovery was made by a farmer on Sunday, 14 September, just a short walk from where the 38-year-old was last seen.
Officers have erected a forensic tent at the scene whilst investigations continue. Rebecca’s devastated family have been informed of the discovery and are being supported by specialist officers, though formal identification has yet to take place.
The discovery came just hours before hundreds of volunteers were due to mount a massive community search effort. Friends, family and local residents had planned to gather at the Thatched Inn in Hassocks at 10am on Monday morning to comb the surrounding countryside.
Rebecca, 38, was reported missing from her home in the Ockley Park estate on Sunday, 7 September. She is a mother of two and a keen horsewoman. Her children raised the alarm after returning home to find their mother had vanished, sparking immediate concern amongst family and friends who described her disappearance as completely out of character.
The week-long search operation deployed extensive resources including drones, police dogs and a helicopter. Search teams methodically combed fields and woodlands surrounding the West Sussex village, with concerned locals joining professional search teams for two consecutive nights to scour the countryside.
Her best friends Kerry Malby was quoted as saying: “She’s a devoted mum and this is completely out of character. She wouldn’t just leave her children.” The distraught friend added: “We can’t understand it. In a very short space of time, she has just completely vanished. People can’t just vanish into thin air.”
Kerry continued: “We just want her home and safe. Her girls need her.”
Rebecca’s mother Alison had expressed growing desperation as the search entered its sixth day, telling reporters: “So far they’ve got no trace of Becky.” Her best friend Kerry Malby revealed the family’s worst fears, saying they had “no idea if she left of her own accord or if she’s been taken.”
Extensive Search Operation
Detective Inspector Chris May of the West Sussex Missing Persons Team had coordinated the extensive search operation throughout the week. “We are growing increasingly concerned for Rebecca’s welfare, and are urging anyone who has seen or heard from her since Sunday morning to get in touch. Extensive enquiries are being completed including physical searches, house-to-house visits, and checks of CCTV and doorbell cameras in the area.”
The missing mother was last spotted leaving an address on the Ockley Park estate at approximately 10am on Sunday, 7 September. Police believed she left on foot, though what she was wearing at the time remains unknown.
Rebecca was described as 5ft 4in tall with shoulder-length brown hair and a distinctive tattoo on her ankle. Officers noted she had connections to Burgess Hill, Horsham, Worthing, Devon and Dorset, broadening the scope of their inquiries.
The search efforts intensified throughout the week as concern mounted. Volunteers described themselves as “worried sick” whilst methodically searching woodland areas and countryside paths. The deployment of specialist resources including drones and search dogs indicated the seriousness with which authorities treated the disappearance.
Community Response
The tight-knit Hassocks community rallied together during the agonising week-long search. Missing person posters bearing Rebecca’s photograph were distributed throughout the village and surrounding areas. Local residents conducted their own searches, checking outbuildings, fields and woodland areas.
Social media campaigns spread awareness of Rebecca’s disappearance far beyond West Sussex. Friends and family members shared appeals across Facebook and other platforms, desperately hoping someone might have seen the missing mother.
The planned community search scheduled for Monday morning would have seen potentially hundreds of volunteers gathering to conduct a coordinated sweep of the area. Organisers had chosen the Thatched Inn as a meeting point, intending to divide searchers into groups to cover maximum ground.
Recent Personal Circumstances
Online speculation had emerged regarding Rebecca’s personal circumstances in the days leading to her disappearance. Public records showed she had recently resigned as a director of a renewable energy company on 5 September, just two days before she went missing. Some observers suggested this might indicate personal difficulties, though police have not confirmed any connection.
Those close to Rebecca emphasised her devotion to her children and her passion for horses. Friends repeatedly stressed that leaving her daughters without explanation would be entirely against her nature as a devoted mother.
Police Statement
In their official statement released on Sunday, Sussex Police said: “Sadly, the body of a woman has been found today in Hassocks. The family of missing Rebecca Holdham have been informed, and they continue to be supported by our officers. Enquiries are ongoing to confirm the woman’s identity.”
The force has not released any information about the circumstances of the discovery or potential cause of death. A police cordon remains in place at the scene whilst forensic examinations continue.
Officers had previously issued urgent appeals for information, asking residents to check CCTV and doorbell camera footage from the morning of Rebecca’s disappearance. House-to-house enquiries were conducted throughout the Ockley Park estate and surrounding streets.
Moving Forward
As formal identification procedures begin, the community of Hassocks faces the grim reality that their worst fears may have been realised. The discovery brings to an end a week of intensive searching but opens painful questions about what happened to the young mother.
Sussex Police continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the discovery. They have asked anyone with information that might assist their enquiries to contact them immediately on 999, quoting serial 1359 of 07/09.
The tragedy has deeply affected the close-knit West Sussex community, where Rebecca was well-known and liked. Local residents who joined search efforts expressed their shock and sadness at the outcome.
Support services have been made available for those affected by the discovery, particularly for the army of volunteers who spent days searching for any trace of the missing mother.
Rebecca’s family have requested privacy during this devastating time as they come to terms with the discovery. Specialist family liaison officers continue to provide support as the investigation proceeds.
The forensic tent erected in the field marks the scene where a week of hope turned to heartbreak for a family, a community, and the two young daughters who first raised the alarm when their mother failed to return home.
As Hassocks mourns, questions remain about how a devoted mother could simply vanish on a Sunday morning, only to be found a week later in a field so close to home. The investigation continues, but for Rebecca Holdham’s loved ones, the agonising wait for answers has been replaced by unbearable grief.
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