Missing woman's boyfriend arrested

Dec 31 2009

A British teenager missing in California is being urged to contact police following the arrest of her 45-year-old boyfriend.

Leona Dawn Perryman, 19, thought to be from Poole in Dorset, was last seen at around midnight on December 18 in Venice, Los Angeles. She had travelled to the United States with boyfriend Paul Atkinson, who reported her missing.

Atkinson then disappeared and did not return police phone calls, prompting a public appeal for help to trace him as a "subject of interest". He was apprehended on Wednesday at a restaurant in Venice after a member of the public spotted him.

Atkinson was arrested on suspicion of possessing a knife and Sergeant Jay Trisler, from Santa Monica Police Department, said tonight that he was still in custody.

The couple arrived in the United States on October 13 and planned to leave on January 7. Miss Perryman was staying at the Pacific Sands Hotel on Ocean Boulevard and left with a backpack, leaving her suitcase in the hotel.

Sgt Trisler said Atkinson was not arrested in connection with Miss Perryman's disappearance.

"We still believe that there is no foul play here. We believe that she is out there somewhere and we are trying to get her to contact us or her parents," he said.

"We are basing that on Mr Atkinson's statements and during their stay here this has happened before."

Miss Perryman has visited cities in Los Angeles including West Hollywood, Venice and Santa Monica.

Sgt Trisler said detectives were liaising with Dorset Police who were in contact with Miss Perryman's family. A message on Miss Perryman's Facebook page posted on December 22 from her mother said: "Leona ring home now when you read this xx mum."