Police are trying to trace Jodi's movements

Detectives carrying out the investigation into the death of the 14-year-old in the Midlothian town of Dalkieth have said they are considering bringing in a psychological profiler.

Ian Stephen, a forensic psychologist who advised on the television crime dramas Cracker and Prime Suspect, said the attack indicated "an eruption of anger".

Police have said Jodi died as a result of "a vicious and frenzied attack involving a knife or a similar weapon".

At the time of the attack the person would have been frenzied and very worked up - they would not have been in control, would have completely lost control Ian Stephen

"It sounds like an argument has taken place, either someone who was extremely upset has come across Jodi or someone was there with her and there has been a violent dispute," said Mr Stephen.

"The severity of the killing suggests the motive may have been more personal, but whoever carried this out was angry, upset and disturbed.

"At the time of the attack the person would have been frenzied and very worked up - they would not have been in control, would have completely lost control."

Mr Stephen said that in most cases of violent death people know the attacker, but that it could also have been an isolated attack.

"With its frenzied nature it could easily be a spur of the moment reaction, an eruption of anger," he added.

Jodi had been walking down a secluded lane

"This person is very unlikely to be settled following the incident, they will be disturbed, possibly obviously disturbed.

"The perpetrator is likely to be very afraid and is probably lying low."

At a news conference appealing for sightings of Jodi on the afternoon she was last seen, police indicated that the person responsible was most likely to have been male and that they were likely to have a degree of local knowledge.

"The police will systematically be going through all known offenders in the area who may have carried out similar attacks," said Mr Stephen.

"They will be trying to rule out people using DNA evidence, talking to her friends and anyone who knew her.

Community fears

"At the moment this is a one-off offence so it is difficult to build up a profile, but the person is likely to be in their teens or 20s and the site of the attack indicates someone with local knowledge."

He added that the repercussions of the crime will be stirring intense emotions within the town as people come to terms with the horrific events.

"The impact on the family will obviously be dreadful.