The teenager was described as popular among fellow pupils

The 14-year-old's body was found by relatives on a wooded pathway near her home in Easthouses, Dalkeith, near Edinburgh, shortly before midnight on Monday.

Detective Inspector Tom Martin, a senior officer in the case, said the youngster's body was partially clothed, but she had not been sexually assaulted.

Mr Martin also renewed appeals for the public to come forward today with information to help find the person responsible for the killing that has stunned the local community.

He said she had died as a result of "a vicious and frenzied attack involving a knife or a similar weapon".

The detective added that the public had responded "extremely well" to the police's appeal for information but that as yet there was "no indication" why Jodi was targeted.

This is something that's come right out of the blue. Nothing prepares you for it Fr Joe McMullen

More than 100 calls have been received from members of the public and a team of 30 officers has been working on the case.

Detailed forensic searches of the area will continue.

A special assembly was being held at St David's High School in Dalkeith, Midlothian, where Jodi was due to enter her S4 year.

A full remembrance mass has also been planned in conjunction with the murdered teenager's family and will be held after the summer holidays.

The chaplain at St David's, Father Joe McMullen, said: "This is something that's come right out of the blue. Nothing prepares you for it.

"And this is more than just the loss of a friend for pupils in the school.

Liaison officers

"This is a violent and brutal murder which they have to face up to as well, and coming to terms with this will be extremely difficult and probably take quite a long time."

Pupils at St David's have been comforted by Fr McMullen, liaison officers from Lothian and Borders Police and education authority counsellors since Jodi's body was discovered on Monday evening.

Midlothian Council said that the education authority will, if necessary, continue to provide support throughout the summer holidays which are due to begin on Friday, 4 July.

Police described a frenzied attack at the murder scene

Jodi, described by her headteacher as a "lovely and popular girl", had been taking a shortcut to her boyfriend's house behind Newbattle Community High School when she was murdered.

Members of her family, out searching after she failed to return home, discovered her body by a wall on the woodland path.

Jodi's body was formally identified on Tuesday and a post-mortem examination was carried out but details have yet to be released.

Police have appealed to anyone who may have been in the area on Monday evening, and who may have information, to contact them.

Increased patrols

Detective Superintendent Craig Dobbie, leading the inquiry, said: "People use this walkway for walking their dogs on a regular basis, most evenings and mornings.

"What I'm interested in is anyone who was using it between 5pm and 10pm on Monday night to come forward because they may hold vital information for this inquiry."

He described Jodi's murder as "one of the most violent crimes I have experienced in my 28 years as a police officer".

Superintendent Jim Tilston said that police patrols have been stepped up in the wake of the murder.