Tragic missing teen witnessed her mum's murder at the hands of her father

A teenager who witnessed her mother being brutally murderedby her father as a child is feared dead after policeconfirmed a body has been found during the search for 18-year-old Serren Bennett.

Serren was just a young girl when her father, Alan Bennett, stabbed her mum, Jodie Betteridge, 132 times outside their Redcarhome in 2016 - just minutes after murderinghis girlfriend, Lynne Freeman. The horrific double killing left three children screaming in the garden over their mother's body. Now, eight years later, Serren has gone missing- and police believe she may have died after vanishing from Redcar beach on June 8. A body was found in the sea near Humberside on Thursday, July 10.

While formal identification is yet to take place, officers say Serren's next of kin has been informed and is being supported by specialist officers. "Sadly, on Thursday, July 10, police received a report that a body had been located in the sea in the Humberside area," a Cleveland Police spokesperson said.

READ MORE: Mum who 'dumped minutes-old baby in bin' tells police it was 'best option'

READ MORE: Man who pretended to be Asda manager and walked out with £40k still at large

"Whilst formal identification is yet to take place, officers have informed Serren Bennett’s next of kin, who is being supported by specialist officers. All our thoughts are with Serren’s family at this difficult time."

Serren was last seen walking alone towards Redcar beach around 9pm. Her disappearance was described by police as "out of character", and she had previously been classed as a vulnerable person. In a haunting detail, her family revealed that among the items left on the beach where she was last seen was a cord from her late mother Jodie's dressing gown.

Speaking before the tragic update from police, Serren's aunt - and Jodie's sister - Nicky Betteridge told Teesside Live: "She is a vulnerable, beautiful girl. I just want to find that beautiful girl who has got so much love to give as well as to be received. All I want is my little niece to be found."

Serren would have turned 19 on July 5. Her life was marked by tragedy early on. On March 23, 2016, Alan Bennett launched a drunken and frenzied attack that began with the fatal stabbing of Lynne Freeman, 46, at her home in Redcar. Moments later, he walked to Jodie's house where she was at home with their children.

Jodie, 30, was stabbed repeatedly in the face, torso, legs and hands - the latter injuries indicating she had tried desperately to fight him off. Her children were discovered screaming over her body in the garden.

Bennett, then 34, pleaded guilty to both murders and was jailed for life. He was told at Teesside Crown Court he must serve a minimum of 32 years and 233 days before being considered for release.

Police say the body found this week has not yet been formally identified, but their search for Serren has now been stood down. Formal identification and a post-mortem examination are expected in the coming days.