[5] Alice Poppy Madeleine Gross was a 14-year-old girl who suffered from anorexia, which was suggested by her mother and some mainstream media sources in the early days of the search for her as being related to her disappearance.

[11] The prime suspect was Latvian builder and convicted murderer Arnis Zalkalns, who went missing from Ealing, West London, on 3 September.

[9] On 1 October, police launched a murder inquiry after Gross's decomposed body was found hidden under logs on the bed of the River Brent the night before.

[14] The local community of Hanwell was galvanised during the time Gross was missing, and a poster campaign to "Find Alice" was organised through a Facebook page.

In order to increase public awareness of Gross being missing the community tied yellow ribbons to trees, railings, their cars and homes.