{{Short description|2002 murder of English schoolgirl}} {{Use British English|date=March 2012}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2026}}
{{Infobox civilian attack | title = Murder of Milly Dowler | image = File:Milly Dowler.jpg | caption = Photograph of Dowler | location = Walton-on-Thames, Surrey, England | date = 21–22 March 2002 | type = Kidnapping and murder (strangulation)<ref name="confession"/> | perp = Levi Bellfield | judge = Alan Wilkie {{Infobox event | title = | child = yes | sentence = Life imprisonment (whole life order) }} }}
On 21 March 2002, 13-year-old '''Milly Dowler''' went missing from Walton-on-Thames in Surrey, England. She was last seen walking home from school along Station Avenue. Following an extensive search, her remains were discovered in Yateley Heath Woods in Hampshire, on 18 September.
On 23 June 2011, Levi Bellfield, already subject to three life sentences with a whole life tariff imposed for the murders of Marsha McDonnell and Amélie Delagrange and the attempted murder of Kate Sheedy, all of which had taken place after Dowler's murder, was found guilty of abducting and murdering Dowler. He received another whole-life sentence. On 27 January 2016, Surrey Police announced that Bellfield had admitted to abducting, raping and murdering Dowler.
Dowler's parents established a charity called Milly's Fund to "promote public safety, and in particular the safety of the children and young people." The case generated debate over the treatment of victims and witnesses in court after Dowler's family criticised the way they were cross-examined during Bellfield's trial.
Dowler's murder played a significant role in the News International phone hacking scandal. In 2011, reports revealed how journalists at the ''News of the World'' newspaper had accessed Dowler's voicemail after she was reported missing, giving her parents false hope she was still alive. The resulting outcry from the British public contributed to the closure of the newspaper and led to a range of investigations and inquiries into phone hacking and media ethics in British media.
== Disappearance == [[File:Walton-on-Thames Station geograph-4050169-by-Ben-Brooksbank.jpg|thumb|left|Dowler was last seen walking along Station Avenue by Walton-on-Thames railway station.]] At 3:07{{nbs}}p.m. on 21{{nbs}}March 2002, 13-year-old Amanda Jane "Milly" Dowler left Heathside School in Weybridge, Surrey, and walked to Weybridge railway station with a friend. The girls travelled to Walton-on-Thames railway station, one stop before Dowler's usual stop of Hersham, and went to the station café.<ref name=":0" /> After Dowler telephoned her father at 3:47{{nbs}}p.m. to say she would be home in half an hour, the girls left the café at 4:05{{nbs}}p.m., with Dowler walking home alone.<ref name=":0" /> She was last seen three minutes later<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-35539761|title=Milly Dowler torment revealed by family|work=BBC News|date=10 February 2016|access-date=12 February 2016}}</ref> walking along Station Avenue, by a friend of her sister who was waiting at a bus stop.<ref name="slink">{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/switch/slink/iloveme/reallifestory/milly.shtml|title=Real-life stories: Milly|publisher=BBC|access-date=30 March 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080309020626/http://www.bbc.co.uk/slink/iloveme/reallifestory/milly.shtml|archive-date=9 March 2008}}</ref>
A closed-circuit television camera located further along the road showed no images of Dowler.<ref name=slink/> A red Daewoo Nexia, which belonged to Levi Bellfield's girlfriend Emma Mills, was photographed driving past by the same camera at 4:32{{nbs}}p.m.<ref name=":0" /> In an April 2009 interview, Bellfield said that he was driving this car.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Was Milly alive in car caught on infamous CCTV images?|url = https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/levi-bellfield-raped-milly-dowler-7350416|website = mirror|access-date = 12 February 2016|first = Steve|last = Robson|date = 11 February 2016}}</ref>
When Dowler failed to return home, she was reported missing to the police at 7:00{{nbs}}p.m.<ref name="edwards2">{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/7537348/Milly-Dowler-murder-reconstruction.html|title=Milly Dowler murder: reconstruction|work=The Daily Telegraph |location=London |date=30 March 2010|access-date=30 March 2010 | first=Richard | last=Edwards}}</ref> A nationwide search for her followed, with 100 police officers and helicopters searching fields,<ref name="helisearch">{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/1888659.stm|title=Massive search for missing girl|publisher=BBC|access-date=19 July 2011|date=25 March 2002}}</ref> streets and rivers around Hersham. Detectives who had investigated the abduction of Sarah Payne were called in to help.<ref name="Payne">{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/1901520.stm|title=Payne police help in Amanda hunt|publisher=BBC News|date=30 March 2002|access-date=14 May 2011}}</ref> Police and the Dowler family made many appeals for information, including a reconstruction on the BBC's ''Crimewatch UK''.<ref name="Appeal">{{cite news|url = https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/1898017.stm|title = TV appeal for missing Amanda|publisher = BBC News|date = 28 March 2002|access-date = 5 August 2006}}</ref> A plea was also made by ''Pop Idol'' winner Will Young, whose concert Dowler had attended shortly before her disappearance.<ref name="Payne" />
The ''Crimewatch UK'' appeal included a direct appeal to Dowler, suggesting that she may have run away from home rather than fallen into the hands of an abductor or murderer. Her mother expressed hope that her daughter had run away, but said that she could not think of a reason why she would want to do so.<ref name="Parents fear">{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/1897382.stm|title=Parents fear Amanda was abducted|publisher=BBC News|date=27 March 2002|access-date=5 August 2006}}</ref> ''The Independent'' reported in 2011 that Dowler had, some time previously, written a mock leaving-home letter and notes showing she had been unhappy.<ref name="pa-20110516">{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/milly-dowlers-dad-was-original-suspect-2284928.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220618/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/milly-dowlers-dad-was-original-suspect-2284928.html |archive-date=18 June 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Milly Dowler's dad was original suspect |date=16 May 2011 |agency=Press Association |work=The Independent |location=London |access-date=6 July 2011 }}</ref>
A week after Dowler's disappearance, the police stated that she was probably not taken by force. They reasoned that while she was unlikely to have gone off with someone she did not know of her own free will, no-one had come forward who had witnessed a struggle despite a number of apparent sightings of her prior to her disappearance. This suggested the possibility that she had willingly entered the home or vehicle of someone she knew.<ref name="Not taken">{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/1902331.stm|title=Amanda 'not taken by force'|publisher=BBC News|date=30 March 2002|access-date=5 August 2006}}</ref>
On 23 April 2002, the discovery of a body in the River Thames prompted media speculation that the body might be that of Dowler, but the body was identified the following day as that of 73-year-old Maisie Thomas, who went missing in March 2001 and whose death was not believed to be suspicious.<ref name="Anguish">{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/1947593.stm|title=Amanda family's anguish goes on|publisher=BBC News|date=24 April 2002|access-date=5 August 2006}}</ref> In June 2002, despite further searches, the offer of a £100,000 reward by national tabloid newspaper ''The Sun''<ref name="Reward">{{cite news |url= https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/1967406.stm |title= £100,000 reward 'to find Milly'|work=BBC News |date= 4 May 2002|publisher=BBC |location=London |access-date=4 July 2011}}</ref> and her parents continuing to send text messages to her mobile telephone in hope of a reply,<ref name="Texting">{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/2063326.stm|title=Parents texting Milly's mobile|publisher=BBC News|date=25 June 2002|access-date=5 August 2006}}</ref> Dowler remained missing. That month, police told her parents that she was probably dead.<ref name="Expect">{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/2059701.stm|title=Milly's parents told: 'Expect the worst'|publisher=BBC News|date=22 June 2002|access-date=5 August 2006}}</ref>
== Body discovery and murder investigation == [[File:Yateley Heath Wood - geograph.org.uk - 24344.jpg|thumb|right|Dowler's remains were located in Yateley Heath Woods near Yateley, Hampshire.]] On 18 September 2002, human remains were discovered by mushroom pickers in Yateley Heath Woods near Yateley, Hampshire.<ref name=blink/> They were later confirmed through dental records as Dowler's.<ref name=slink/><ref name="bbcmarch">{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/8593861.stm|title=Man to face Milly Dowler murder charge |publisher=BBC News|date=30 March 2010|access-date=30 March 2010}}</ref> Due to the severity of the decomposition, the cause of death could not be ascertained. No items of Dowler's clothing or possessions—the purse, rucksack, or mobile phone—she had with her at the time of her disappearance have ever been recovered,<ref name="timeline">{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/1947954.stm|title=Timeline: Milly Dowler |publisher=BBC News|date=20 September 2002|access-date=14 May 2011}}</ref><ref name="Found">{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/2271244.stm|title=Milly's body found|publisher=BBC News|date=21 September 2002|access-date=5 August 2006}}</ref><ref name="Clues">{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/2272211.stm|title=Milly police seek fresh clues|publisher=BBC News|date=21 September 2002|access-date=5 August 2006}}</ref> The discovery of the body led the police to reclassify the case as a homicide investigation. Undertaken by Surrey Police, the investigation was code-named Operation Ruby.<ref name=Edwards09>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/law-and-order/6057078/Convicted-killer-Levi-Bellfield-may-face-charges-over-Milly-Dowler-killing.html|title=Convicted killer Levi Bellfield may face charges over Milly Dowler killing|work=The Daily Telegraph |location=London |date=19 August 2009|access-date=18 May 2011 | first=Richard | last=Edwards}}</ref>
On 22 November 2002, police set up a road block near the spot where the body was found. Some 6,000 motorists in the area were questioned, but no leads were discovered.<ref name="Motorist">{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/1413988/Milly-6000-drivers-questioned.html|title=Milly: 6,000 drivers questioned|work=The Daily Telegraph |location=London |date=22 November 2002|access-date=13 May 2011}}</ref> Initially the Surrey Police had considered Dowler's father a suspect, as police have often found that family members are implicated in such cases. They later apologised for the missed opportunities their attention to this track may have caused.<ref name=pa-20110516 /><ref name=guardian-20110627 /> On 23 March 2003, DNA of an unidentified male was discovered on an item of Dowler's clothing in her bedroom, suggesting that her killer may have met her before. This link was ruled out within three months, around the same time that a DNA link to a church robbery in Sunderland was also ruled out.<ref name="Outfit">{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/party-outfit-may-hold-clue-to-milly-murder-592052.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220618/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/party-outfit-may-hold-clue-to-milly-murder-592052.html |archive-date=18 June 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Party outfit may hold clue to Milly murder|work=The Independent |location=London |date=23 March 2003|access-date=14 May 2011|first=Sophie|last=Goodchild}}</ref>
Paul Hughes was convicted of making death threats and was jailed for five years after sending letters to Dowler's sister threatening to kill her and claiming to have killed Dowler. Hughes sent the letters while imprisoned for indecently assaulting a 12-year-old girl; the prison service apologised for not screening mail effectively.<ref name="Threats">{{cite news|url=http://news.scotsman.com/amandadowlermurder/Prisoner-hate-mail-blunder.2626799.jp|title=Prisoner hate mail blunder|work=The Scotsman |date=16 May 2005|access-date=14 May 2011|location=Edinburgh, UK|first=Simon |last=Evans}}</ref> Leanne Newman, of Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, repeatedly phoned Dowler's parents, school and the police, pretending to be Dowler. Newman was jailed in April 2003 for five months after pleading guilty to five counts of making phone calls to cause annoyance, inconvenience, or needless anxiety.<ref name="Hoax1">{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/2907541.stm|title=Milly hoax caller jailed|publisher=BBC News|date=1 April 2003|access-date=5 August 2006}}</ref> Gary Farr, of Retford, Nottinghamshire, repeatedly e-mailed Dowler's parents, friends, and police officers working on the case, claiming that she was still alive and had been smuggled out of the country to work as a prostitute and stripper at nightclubs in Poland, and that her alleged death had been a cover-up. Farr was sectioned indefinitely under the Mental Health Act on 19 October 2006 for being a serious psychological danger to the public after admitting a charge of harassment.<ref name="Hoax2">{{Cite web|url=https://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/local-news/section-order-man-who-targeted-4837633|title = Section order for man who targeted Milly's parents|date = 25 October 2006}}</ref>
In March 2008, an unnamed man was arrested over the disposal of a car linked to the murder investigation, but was released later that same day.<ref name="link">{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/7283330.stm|title=Man arrested over Milly inquiry |publisher=BBC News|date=7 March 2008|access-date=7 March 2008}}</ref> In October 2009, Bedfont Lakes Country Park in West London was searched by police in the hope of finding the red Daewoo Nexia, but they recovered neither the car nor anything else of interest to their inquiry. The car has yet to be found.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/milly-dowler-police-search-lake-for-car-1798325.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220618/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/milly-dowler-police-search-lake-for-car-1798325.html |archive-date=18 June 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title= Divers fail to find Milly Dowler car|work=The Independent |location=London |date=6 October 2009 |access-date=8 October 2010 |first1=Wesley |last1=Johnson |first2=Chris |last2=Greenwood}}</ref>
On 25 February 2008, Surrey Police confirmed that Levi Bellfield was their prime suspect in the murder inquiry and that they were "very interested" in questioning him following his conviction of the murders of two young female students and the attempted murder of a third.<ref name=autogenerated1>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7263335.stm|title=Bellfield linked to Milly Dowler's killing |publisher=BBC News|date=25 February 2008|access-date=25 February 2008}}</ref> On 30 March 2010, Bellfield was charged with Dowler's abduction and murder.<ref name="charge">{{cite news | url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/levi-bellfield-to-be-charged-with-milly-dowler-211201 | title=Levi Bellfield to be charged with Milly Dowler murder|work=mirror.co.uk | date=29 March 2010 }}</ref> As a result, the inquest into her death was adjourned.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/hp/front/levi-bellfield-trial-delays-milly-dowler-inquest-6466833.html |title=Levi Bellfield trial delays Milly Dowler inquest |work=London Evening Standard |date=7 May 2010 |access-date=8 October 2010 |location=London |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100516154328/http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23831491-levi-bellfield-trial-delays-milly-dowler-inquest.do |archive-date=16 May 2010 }}</ref> On 6 October 2010, Bellfield appeared in court via video link, as he was already serving three life sentences for murder and attempted murder, and was formally charged in relation to the Dowler case.<ref>{{cite news |date= 2 July 2013 |orig-date= 6 October 2010 |title= Man accused of Milly murder to stand trial in May |work= Surrey Live |url= https://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/local-news/man-accused-milly-murder-stand-4817749 |access-date= 9 April 2023 }}</ref>
== Trial of Bellfield == Bellfield's trial began on 10 May 2011 at the Central Criminal Court before Mr Justice Wilkie<ref name=blink>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/8506314/Levi-Bellfield-trial-a-blink-of-the-eye-and-Milly-Dowler-was-gone.html|title= Levi Bellfield trial: a blink of the eye and Milly Dowler was gone|work=The Daily Telegraph |location=London |date=11 May 2011|access-date=14 May 2011|first=Caroline|last=Gammell}}</ref> and concluded on 23 June 2011; the jury found him guilty.<ref>{{cite news | url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-13875507 | title = Levi Bellfield guilty of Milly Dowler murder| date= 23 June 2011 | access-date =23 June 2011 |publisher=BBC News}}</ref> He was sentenced to life imprisonment<ref>{{cite news | url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-13903710 | title = Levi Bellfield trial jury discharged| date= 24 June 2011 | access-date =24 June 2011 |publisher=BBC News}}</ref> the following day, and the trial judge recommended a whole life tariff in line with his previous murder convictions three years earlier.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/london/7264138.stm |title=Bellfield given 'whole life' term |date=26 February 2008 |publisher=BBC News |access-date=2 July 2014}}</ref> The trial of Bellfield on another charge for the attempted abduction of Rachel Cowles, an 11-year-old girl known to have been offered a lift in the Walton area by a man in a red car on 20 March 2002, was abandoned due to newspapers publishing prejudicial material.<ref name="guardian-20110627">{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/law/2011/jun/27/milly-dowler-parents-family-levi-bellfield |title=The Dowler family's ordeal is no case for silent witnesses |author=Joshua Rozenberg |date=27 June 2011 |newspaper=The Guardian |access-date=28 June 2011 |location=London}}</ref> The judge ordered that the charge should remain on file.<ref name="guardian-20110624">{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/greenslade/2011/jun/24/medialaw-judiciary |title=Were the media wrong to report on serial murderer Bellfield? |author=Roy Greenslade |date=24 June 2011 |newspaper=The Guardian |access-date=28 June 2011 |location=London}}</ref>
=== Post-trial === Following Bellfield's trial, the murder of Dowler, investigation, and trial were the subject of a special ''Crimewatch'' programme, titled ''Taken: The Milly Dowler Story,'' which was broadcast on BBC One on 30 June 2011. It featured interviews with witnesses, Dowler's family, and investigators. The programme explored how Bellfield was caught, and featured a reconstruction of how the crime was believed to have unfolded based on court transcripts.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b012hlmc |title=Taken: The Milly Dowler Story webpage |publisher=BBC |date=30 June 2011 |access-date=8 July 2011}}</ref>
On 27 January 2016, Surrey Police announced that Bellfield had admitted to the abduction, rape, and murder of Dowler. This was after another arrest in the Dowler case had been made and Bellfield was interviewed about whether he had had an accomplice. After his confession, the police released the individual they had arrested, without charge.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/milly-dowler-levi-bellfield-admits-abducting-raping-and-killing-schoolgirl-for-the-first-time-a6837491.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220618/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/milly-dowler-levi-bellfield-admits-abducting-raping-and-killing-schoolgirl-for-the-first-time-a6837491.html |archive-date=18 June 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|first=Caroline |last=Mortimer|title=Milly Dowler: Levi Bellfield admits abducting, raping and killing schoolgirl for the first time|date=27 January 2016 |work=The Independent |access-date=27 January 2016}}</ref> On 12 February 2016, Bellfield changed his story, denying that he had confessed to Dowler's murder.<ref>{{Cite news|title = Levi Bellfield 'denies Milly Dowler murder confession'|work = BBC News|date = 12 February 2016|url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-35564269|access-date = 13 February 2016}}</ref><ref name="confession">{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/12149716/Milly-Dowlers-family-Now-we-know-the-final-hours-of-Millys-life.html|title=Milly Dowler's final 14 hours revealed: Levi Bellfield raped and tortured teen before finally strangling her|work=The Daily Telegraph|date=10 February 2016|access-date=10 February 2016}}</ref>
==== Reactions to court proceedings ==== After Bellfield's sentencing, the Dowler family strongly criticised their treatment during the trial. Dowler's sister Gemma described the day that her parents were cross-examined by Bellfield's defence lawyer as "the worst day of my life".<ref name="bbc"/> Her mother told reporters outside the Old Bailey: {{blockquote|For us, the trial has been a truly awful experience. We have had to hear Milly's name defamed in court; she has been portrayed as an unhappy, depressed young girl... the Milly we knew was a happy, vivacious, fun-loving girl. Our family life has been scrutinised and laid open for everyone to inspect. We've had to lose our right to privacy and sit through day after harrowing day of the trial in order to get a man convicted of this brutal murder. The lengths the system goes to protect his human rights seems so unfair compared to what we as a family have had to endure.<ref name="bbc">{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-13908417 |title=BBC News – Milly's mother on Bellfield: 'I hope his life is a living hell' |publisher=BBC |date=24 June 2011 |access-date=8 July 2011}}</ref>}}
Dowler's father, Bob, commented on Bellfield's refusal to give evidence in court, and to appear for sentencing. He added: {{blockquote|My family's had to pay too high a price for this conviction. The trial has been a truly mentally-scarring experience on an unimaginable scale; you had to have been there to truly understand. During our questioning, my wife and I both felt as if we were on trial; we despair of a justice system that is so loaded in favour of the perpetrator of the crime.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-13908422 |title=BBC News – Milly Dowler's father speaks about his family's 'horrifying ordeal' |publisher=BBC |date=24 June 2011 |access-date=8 July 2011}}</ref>}}
Chief Constable Mark Rowley, who oversaw the investigation, joined the Director of Public Prosecutions in calling for changes and for greater protection of victims and witnesses during court cases.<ref>{{cite news|author=Clive Coleman |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-13913964 |title=BBC News – 'Changes needed' to system after Milly Dowler trial |publisher=BBC |date=25 June 2011 |access-date=8 July 2011}}</ref> Rowley said it was a "most bizarre and distressing coincidence" that the Dowler family had their privacy "destroyed", at a time when footballers and celebrities were being granted super-injunctions to protect details of their personal lives.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/8598316/Levi-Bellfield-trial-Milly-Dowler-police-chief-attacks-incongruous-justice-system.html |title=Levi Bellfield trial: Milly Dowler police chief attacks 'incongruous' justice system |work=The Telegraph|date=25 June 2011 |access-date=8 July 2011 |location=London |first=Richard |last=Gray}}</ref>
Justice Secretary Kenneth Clarke rejected calls for a review of criminal cases. Clarke said that, while Bellfield had been convicted of previous murders, he had to be presumed innocent in the Dowler case and found guilty by a jury in a full court process. To avoid prejudicing the trial, the court did not allow evidence to be introduced of Bellfield's "obsession" with schoolgirls, and his attempts to procure sex from them.<ref>{{cite news|author=Caroline Davies |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2011/jun/24/levi-bellfield-profile-milly-dowler |title=Levi Bellfield: obsessed with schoolgirls and sexual violence | UK news |work=The Guardian |location=London |date= 24 June 2011|access-date=8 July 2011 }}</ref>
== Voicemail tampering investigation == {{main|News International phone hacking scandal}} ''The Guardian'' reported on 4 July 2011 that Scotland Yard had discovered Dowler's voicemail had been accessed by journalists working for the ''News of the World'' and the newspaper's private investigator Glenn Mulcaire.<ref>James Robinson [https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2011/jul/04/milly-dowler-family-phone-hacking "Milly Dowler phone hacking: Family shocked by NoW revelations"], ''The Guardian'', 4 July 2011</ref> ''The Guardian'' also reported that, during the police investigation into that newspaper's phone hacking activities, detectives discovered that journalists had deleted some messages—potential evidence—in Dowler's voicemail box because it was full, in order to free up space for new messages, to which they could listen. The deletions after Dowler was missing led family and friends to think that she was still alive.<ref>Nick Davies and Amelia Hill [https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2011/jul/04/milly-dowler-voicemail-hacked-news-of-world "Missing Milly Dowler's voicemail was hacked by News of the World"], ''The Guardian'', 4 July 2011</ref> It was later reported that Dowler's phone automatically deleted messages 72 hours after they were listened to.<ref>{{cite web|last=Fiveash|first=Kelly|title=NoW didn't delete Milly Dowler 'false hope' voicemail|url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/12/12/notw_dowler_voicemail/|publisher=The Register|access-date=12 December 2011}}</ref>
Dowler's parents announced via their solicitor that they would pursue a claim for damages against the ''News of the World.''<ref>[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/8616409/Milly-Dowlers-phone-was-hacked-by-News-of-The-World.html "Milly Dowler's phone was 'hacked by News of The World'"], ''The Daily Telegraph'', 4 July 2011</ref> In September 2011, it was reported that the Dowler family had been offered £2{{nbs}}million (equivalent to {{Currency|{{To USD|2|GBR|year=2011|r=1}}|USD}}{{nbs}}million at the time) in personal damages.<ref>Gordon Rayner and Andrew Hough [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/phone-hacking/8775568/Phone-hacking-Milly-Dowler-family-set-for-3-million-News-International-payout.html Phone hacking: Milly Dowler family set for £3 million News International payout], ''The Daily Telegraph,'' 20 September 2011</ref> In January 2012, it was reported that Surrey Police and other police forces knew soon after Dowler's death that ''News of the World'' staff had accessed her mobile phone messages, but did not take issue with this. Instead a senior Surrey officer invited newspaper staff to a meeting to discuss the case.<ref name="telegraph-20120123">{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/9032994/News-of-the-World-reporter-played-police-Milly-Dowler-voicemail.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120124224016/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/9032994/News-of-the-World-reporter-played-police-Milly-Dowler-voicemail.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=24 January 2012 |title=News of the World reporter played police Milly Dowler voicemail |author=Gordon Rayner |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|date=23 January 2012 |access-date=18 April 2012}}</ref>
Incidents relating to the aftermath were depicted in the 2025 ITV drama about the phone hacking scandal, ''The Hack''.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Fear |first1=Helen |title=The Hack on ITV1: The talented - and HUGE! - cast of phone hacking drama led by David Tennant |url=https://www.tvguide.co.uk/streaming-guide/the-hack-itv-insanely-talented-cast-phone-hacking-scandal-david-tennant-toby-jones-robert-carlyle |website=TV Guide |access-date=25 September 2025 |language=en}}</ref>
== Legacy == Dowler's parents, Sally and Bob Dowler, launched a charity called ''Milly's Fund'' on the day of her memorial service in October 2002.<ref name="Charity">{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/2306879.stm|title=Milly's parents launch new charity|publisher=BBC News|date=8 October 2002|access-date=5 August 2006}}</ref> Its mission was "to promote public safety, and in particular the safety of the children and young people".<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.wasp-sports.co.uk/milly/milly.htm | title = Milly's Fund|access-date =18 May 2011 | publisher = Wasp Sports}}</ref> The charity provides risk assessment advice to teenagers, youth workers, and educators. Its work includes the "Teach UR Mum 2 TXT" campaign, which encourages children and parents to stay in contact via text messaging, including a glossary for parents of commonly-used SMS abbreviations.
The campaign was awarded "Best Use of Mobile for Accessibility" at the 2004 GSM Association Awards.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gsmworld.com/news/press_2004/press04_12.shtml|title=GSM Association Awards Winners Take Centre Stage at Cannes|publisher=GSM Association press release|access-date=5 August 2006|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060904054900/http://www.gsmworld.com/news/press_2004/press04_12.shtml |archive-date = 4 September 2006|url-status=dead}}</ref> Milly's Fund commissioned a five-part soap opera titled ''Watch Over Me'' (2003), which encourages personal safety for teenagers,<ref name="safety">{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/1433358/Teenagers-targeted-with-Milly-safety-video.html|title=Teenagers targeted with Milly safety video|date=18 June 2003|work=The Daily Telegraph|location=London|access-date=14 May 2011}}</ref> to be distributed to every school in the UK.<ref name="safety" />
At the 2005 Hampton Court Palace Flower Show, a garden designed in memory of Dowler by Penny Smith won the Tudor Rose award, the show's highest honour.<ref name="Garden">{{cite web|title=Surrey Police and Milly's Fund join forces for award-winning garden at Hampton Court Flower Show |url=http://www.surrey.police.uk/media/news_item.asp?area=12&itemID=5873 |publisher=Surrey Police |access-date=15 May 2011 |date=7 May 2005 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110520173037/http://surrey.police.uk/media/news_item.asp?area=12&itemID=5873 |archive-date=20 May 2011 }}</ref><ref name="garden_gs">{{cite web|url=http://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/s/93469_millys_memorial_garden_opens|title=Milly's memorial garden opens|work=Get Surrey|date=9 July 2004|access-date=14 May 2011}}</ref> The garden was designed in the style of a 1950s police house garden with flowers and vegetables,<ref>{{cite news |title= Seclusion proves a winner for Hadrian |date= 2 July 2013 |orig-date= 14 July 2005 |work= Surrey Live |url= https://www.getsurrey.co.uk/whats-on/find-things-to-do/seclusion-proves-winner-hadrian-4844656 |access-date= 19 May 2026 }}</ref> and was constructed with the assistance of students from the Merrist Wood campus of Guildford College.<ref>{{cite news |title= New flower show garden for Milly |date= 14 June 2005 |work= BBC News |url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/southern_counties/4090636.stm |access-date= 19 May 2026 }}</ref>
In 2005, the family announced that Milly's Fund would be transferred to the Suzy Lamplugh Trust and was wound up that year.<ref name="Lamplugh">{{cite web|url=http://www.millysfund.org.uk/about/announce.php|title=Special Announcement|publisher=Milly's Fund|access-date=5 August 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051217022529/http://millysfund.org.uk/about/announce.php|archive-date=17 December 2005}}</ref><ref>{{EW charity|1094006|Milly's Fund}}</ref>
A magenta sweet pea was named after Dowler and made publicly available by Matthewman's Sweetpeas.<ref name="Matthewman's">{{cite newspaper The Times |last= Desborough |first= Julian |date= 20 May 2006 |title=Remembering Milly |url= https://www.thetimes.com/comment/register/article/remembering-milly-7xwd2t7gz0v |url-status= live |access-date= 20 January 2026 |archive-url= https://archive.today/20260120130129/https://www.thetimes.com/comment/register/article/remembering-milly-7xwd2t7gz0v |archive-date= 20 January 2026 }}</ref>
The investigation that led to Bellfield's arrest was dramatised in the three-part 2019 television series ''Manhunt'', with Martin Clunes playing Colin Sutton, the detective in charge of the Delagrange investigation.<ref name="Mangan">{{cite web |last1=Mangan |first1=Lucy |title=Manhunt review – a sober, responsible drama about the murder of three young females by Levi Bellfield |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2019/jan/06/manhunt-review-a-sober-responsible-drama-about-the-of-three-young-females-by-levi-bellfield |website=The Guardian |access-date=7 January 2019 |date=6 January 2019}}</ref>
==See also== *List of solved missing person cases (2000s) *Murder of Patsy Morris, unsolved 1980 murder of Bellfield's childhood girlfriend *Murders of Eve Stratford and Lynne Weedon
== References == {{Reflist|30em}}
== Further reading == *{{cite book |last=Wansell |first=Geoffrey |year=2011 |title=The Bus Stop Killer: Milly Dowler, Her Murder and the Full Story of the Sadistic Serial Killer Levi Bellfield |location=London |publisher=Penguin |isbn=9780241952818 }}
==External links== *{{Guardian topic}}
{{Portal bar|Biography|Surrey|Law}} {{2011 News Corporation scandal}} {{Murders in the United Kingdom in the 2000s}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dowler, Milly}} Category:2002 in England Category:Femicide Category:2002 murders in the United Kingdom Category:2000s in Hampshire Category:2000s missing person cases Category:2000s in Surrey Category:2010s trials Category:Crime in Hampshire Category:Deaths by person in England Category:Female murder victims in the United Kingdom Category:Formerly missing British people Category:Incidents of violence against girls Category:March 2002 crimes in Europe Category:March 2002 in the United Kingdom Category:Missing person cases in England Category:Murder in Surrey Category:Murder trials in the United Kingdom Category:News International phone hacking scandal Category:Trials in London Category:Child murder in England