A WOMAN who went missing from the secure hospital where she was detained has been located after a police appeal that said she had links to Herefordshire.

Laura Van Marle, 43, has been subject to an indefinite hospital order after admitting manslaughter in 2021. She had originally been charged with the murder of her mother in Cradley, Herefordshire. 

Police confirmed that Van Marle was found and detained this morning, Saturday August 12, having been missing overnight. Officers were supported by a helicopter and specialist units including a dog and handler to carry out searches in and around Wellington in Somerset, where she escaped.

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A spokesperson for Avon and Somerset Constabulary said Van Marle made off from the secure unit in Wellington after threatening a member of hospital staff with a weapon while on escorted leave just after 5pm on Friday August 11.

However, she is known to walk long distances which led police to believe that she could have travelled further afield, potentially into Herefordshire. 

Avon and Somerset Constabulary said: "We'd like to thank everyone who contacted us with information or shared our appeal."