DI Tom Martin says police are looking at possible motives

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

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

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

It is a not a sexual attack and it is not theft. Two potential motives have been struck off the list for the time being Detective Inspector Tom Martin

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.

More than 140 calls have been received from members of the public and a team of more than 40 officers has been working on the case.

Detailed forensic searches of the area will continue.

Mr Martin said officers had yet to receive a sighting of the teenage schoolgirl from the time she left her home at about 1700 BST until her body was discovered on the path, known locally as Roman Dyke, behind Newbattle High School.

The teenager was attacked with a knife or similar weapon

He appealed for anyone who had seen someone acting suspiciously in the area around Newbattle Road or Easthouses Road on Monday evening to come forward.

He also urged the public to be aware of anyone whose character had changed over the last 48 hours or perhaps had not been seen over that period, or was not wearing a favourite jacket, pair of trousers or footwear.

Mr Martin said it was hard to know if the suspect could be from within the community.

But he said the place where the crime happened suggested "a degree of local knowledge" was involved in the crime.

He would not speculate on whether the crime was a case of the teenager being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

He said indications were that the person they were looking for was indeed a male, but gave few further details.

Locals have been paying their respects to Jodi

"I think given the level of violence and the circumstances, which I don't particularly want to go into at this time, there has to be a strong possibility that a male was involved," he said.

The detective inspector said inquiries had concluded that none of the teenager's possessions were missing. Theft had been ruled out as a motive.

He said: "It is a not a sexual attack and it is not theft. Two potential motives have been struck off the list for the time being."

The detective said the investigating team may bring in a psychological profiler as part of their inquiry into Jodi's death.

Mr Martin added: "At this moment in time, both the family of Jodi and indeed the family of the boyfriend are extremely distressed and are being comforted by friends and family as well as family liaison officers from Lothian and Borders Police."

Meanwhile, tributes have been pouring in as friends and teachers at Jodi's school have held a service to mark her death.

More than 30 bouquets have been laid at the entrance to the path where her body was found, less than 200 yards from her home.