The Appalling Kidnap and Murder of Teen Leanne Tiernan

On November 26, 2000, sixteen-year-old Leanne Tiernan left the house to do some Christmas shopping. She spent the day with her fifteen-year-old friend, Sarah Whitehouse. At 4:50 PM, the girls returned home on the bus. They split up at Houghley Lane. Whitehouse saw Leanne walk down the unlit path, known as Houghley Gill.

Sarah Whitehouse walked home, and called her friend upon arrival. She was surprised that Leanne hadn’t arrived. As soon as Leanne spoke to Sarah, she knew that something wasn’t right. It was only a short walk from Houghley Gill. Leanne’s mom called her daughter’s cell phone at 5:20 PM, and waited while it rang. It eventually was cut off. The second time that she called, it only rang four times, until it was cut off.

It wasn’t like Leanne to go missing like that, and not let her family know where she was. She was a streetwise teen, who was extremely happy and confident. Leanne had never gone missing before. She’d never run away from home, and there were no issues in the household that could explain why she might want to run off. It just wasn’t like her at all.

Leanne Tiernan was born on September 27, 1984, in Leeds, England. She was the daughter of Sharon Hawkhead, and Michael Tiernan. Leanne’s parents were divorced, and she lived with her mother, and older sister, Michelle.

She had attended West Leeds High School. Leanne had been a thin girl, standing only 5’4”. She’d had an eyebrow ring, and had last been seen wearing black…