A SECOND man has been arrested in connection with the suspected murder of a missing woman last seen in County Durham.
The 50-year-old was arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender in relation to the investigation following the disappearance of 24-year-old Alisha Apostoloff-Boyarin.
Alisha was last seen in the county in January and a murder inquiry was launched earlier this month when a 59-year-old man from Willington was arrested.
He has been questioned by detectives on suspicion of her murder and since bailed.
Read more: Arrest in Willington murder inquiry over missing woman
The arrest was made after detectives established that although Alisha was still missing, evidence suggested that she had come to serious harm.
Alisha lived in Ashton-Under-Lyne, the same area as the second man who has been arrested.
The case is being led by Greater Manchester Police who have been carrying out inquiries in Oak Avenue area.
The Senior Investigating Officer, DCI Andrew Naismith, said: "Our team of detectives are working around the clock to try and piece together what has happened to Alisha.
"We have followed a number of lines of enquiry so far which has resulted in two arrests and we feel that we are edging closer towards establishing the full circumstances.
"We have executed warrants at an address in County Durham this week, where we believe Alisha travelled to from Manchester.
“We subsequently arrested a second suspect on Tuesday, March 22, and he has since been released pending further enquiries.
"I'd like to appeal again for anyone who may have seen Alisha since January, or anyone who has any information at all about her disappearance, to please get in touch with police as soon as possible, as you may be able to help us find Alisha and bring some closure for her family."
Alisha's family are currently being supported by family liaison officers.
Anyone with information can send information to us through our online portal here: https://mipp.police.uk/operation/06GMP22G11-PO1 or by calling GMPs Major Incident team on 0161 856 6777, or by using our LiveChat service on our website, www.gmp.police.uk.
Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
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