The search for 58-year-old Laura McIntosh, who was reported missing from Golspie, has taken a tragic turn after Police Scotland confirmed that a woman’s body was discovered on Embo beach in Sutherland.
Police said officers were notified at approximately 10:40 a.m. on Sunday, August 30, 2026, after the discovery was reported. Laura’s family has been informed of the development.
However, authorities have stressed that formal identification has not yet taken place. As a result, police have not officially confirmed that the body found on Embo beach is that of Laura McIntosh.
The death is currently being treated as unexplained, although Police Scotland said there are no suspicious circumstances at this stage. Inquiries remain ongoing as officers work to establish the identity of the woman and determine the circumstances surrounding her death.
Laura had been reported missing from the Golspie area earlier in August. According to Police Scotland, she was last seen at approximately 9:30 p.m. on Monday, August 17, on Little Ferry Road in Golspie.
Her disappearance prompted an extensive search involving police and coastguard resources. Laura was described as approximately 5 feet 7 inches tall, with a slim build and shorter-than-shoulder-length brown and grey hair. Police initially said they did not know what clothing she had been wearing when she was last seen.
The investigation also led authorities to Laura’s blue Skoda Fabia, which was located in the Little Ferry area at approximately 6:25 a.m. on Tuesday, August 18. The discovery prompted further inquiries into her movements and additional searches around the area.
Coastguard resources were involved in the search, including aircraft and a lifeboat. A Coastguard helicopter searched areas around Loch Fleet and the surrounding coastline, while a lifeboat from Invergordon also assisted.
Police appealed to members of the public for information that could help establish Laura’s movements after she was last seen. Officers also asked anyone with potentially relevant dashcam footage to come forward.
For Laura’s family and friends, the discovery on Embo beach represents an extremely difficult development after almost two weeks of uncertainty. The search had continued as loved ones hoped for information that would establish what had happened to her.
Despite the discovery, authorities have cautioned against drawing conclusions before the formal identification process is completed. The body found on the beach has not been officially identified as Laura, and the investigation into the circumstances of the death remains active.
Police Scotland is expected to provide further information when appropriate as inquiries continue. Until formal identification takes place, Laura’s disappearance remains an ongoing investigation.
The discovery has nevertheless brought renewed attention to the search and to the concern that surrounded Laura’s disappearance. Her family has been informed, while investigators continue working to establish the facts.
For now, authorities are asking the public to allow the formal identification and investigation processes to take place. The discovery of a woman’s body on Embo beach is a significant development, but police have not yet confirmed that it is Laura McIntosh.
