Jeshma was last seen three days before her 18th birthday

Jeshma Raithatha was stabbed through the heart and left in bushes near a footpath in Sudbury Hill, west London.

The last reported sighting of her was on Monday 16 May, but police think she was murdered on 22 May.

Police say the "full circumstances" are not yet known, but want reports of anyone seen acting suspiciously in that area last week.

Jeshma's parents Suresh and Manjula reported her missing after she did not return home on 16 May.

Our beautiful and loving daughter has been taken away from us by an evil person Suresh and Manjula Raithatha

Staff saw her at Claremont High School in Kenton at about 1400 BST but that was last reported sighting. Her family had said it was very out of character for Jeshma to disappear.

She was due to turn 18 last week and should have taken her first A-level exam on Monday.

Instead police spent eight days trying to trace her, before finding her body in undergrowth by the recreation ground between the David Lloyd leisure centre and Greenford Road, behind Sudbury Tower.

Det Supt Sue Hill said police were keeping an open mind about why Jeshma was killed. She wants any of Jeshma's friends, who may have seen her after 16 May, to contact police.

"'This is a very tragic case, and a very distressing time for Jeshma's family and friends," she said.

"We are working hard to collect the facts and evidence that will help us solve this case."

'Evil person'

Jeshma was last seen wearing a blue jumper, navy jeans and carrying a black schoolbag with red hearts. Her family had said her disappearance was "completely out of character".

In a statement, her mother and father said: "The family is devastated and is distressed at this time and request that the media now respect our privacy and allow us to grieve in peace.

"Our beautiful and loving daughter has been taken away from us by an evil person.

"If anyone has seen or knows anything that will help catch her killer please contact police."

Staff at Claremont High School, in Kenton, where Jeshma had been due to sit her first A-Level exam on Monday, described her as a "caring and creative young woman".

"At this very sad time, our hearts go out to her family," they said in a statement.

Pupils and staff have been offered counselling.