Aria Thorpe's Death Unsolved After Teen Acquittal

A 16-year-old was acquitted on 25 June 2026 of murdering nine-year-old Aria Thorpe in Weston-super-Mare. The not guilty verdict closes the criminal case against him but leaves the girl's death legally unresolved. Police and the Crown Prosecution Service have not announced whether they will pursue further investigation or charges under different legal theories. A retrial would require new and compelling evidence and Court of Appeal approval—a rare threshold.