A man charged with the murder of midwife Samantha Eastwood has been remanded in custody after a brief appearance in court. Michael Stirling, 32, is the brother-in-law of Miss Eastwood's former fiancé. Stirling was charged after Miss Eastwood's body was found by officers searching rural land near to a quarry in Caverswall, Staffordshire on Saturday - eight days after she vanished. The 28-year-old NHS worker was last seen in her uniform leaving work at Royal Stoke Hospital at 7.45am on July 27. Staffordshire Police are today expected to reveal how the midwife died after a post-mortem took place yesterday, Stoke-on-Trent Live reports. Flowers have been left outside Miss Eastwood's home and at Royal Stoke Hospital as heartbroken friends and family pay tribute to her.<doc-sep>The video will auto-play soon 8 Cancel Get email updates with the day's biggest stories Invalid Email Something went wrong, please try again later. Sign up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Detectives investigating the death of 28-year-old midwife Samantha Eastwood have tonight charged a man with her murder. Michael Stirling, 32, from Stoke-on-Trent, will appear before North Staffordshire Magistrates' Court tomorrow morning. Stirling is the brother-in-law of Miss Eastwood's ex-fiance John Peake, 34. Around a dozen uniformed officers could be seen swooping on the home of the midwife's former partner's sister and her husband earlier today. Police have also been searching a semi-detached property in Stoke-on-Trent believed to be the home of Michael Stirling's parents Carol, 57, and Stephen, 60. The body of Samantha was discovered during a police search of rural ground near to Caverswall on Saturday, August 4. She had been reported missing on Friday 27 July after she failed to appear for a night shift. Today the family issued a statement through Staffordshire Police saying: "The family of Samantha would like to ask that their privacy is respected at this terrible time. "We would like to say 'thank-you' to all the people who followed Samantha's story and tried their best to help." Floral tributes have been left on Samatha's doorstep on Greenside Avenue in the Stockton Brook area of Stoke-on-Trent. (Image: Facebook) Video Loading Video Unavailable Click to play Tap to play The video will auto-play soon 8 Cancel Play now Two other men aged 60 and 28, who were arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender, have been released on conditional bail while enquires are ongoing, Staffordshire Police said in a statement this evening. The body has been removed from where it was found and a post mortem has taken place today to establish the cause of death. The cause of death is yet to be revealed. Miss Eastwood was popular with her colleagues. Chief Nurse Liz Rix, of University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust, wrote on Twitter: "Sam will be deeply missed and our thoughts are with her family and friends during this time. "Sam, who had worked as a midwife at Royal Stoke for six years, was a much loved and valued member of the Maternity service. "I would like to thank @StaffsPolice for their dedication and support this week."<doc-sep>The brother-in-law of Samantha Eastwood's ex-fiance has appeared in court today accused of her murder as it was claimed the midwife told a colleague she had been threatened. Michael Stirling, 32, was last night charged with killing the much-loved 28-year-old - a day after her body was found dumped in a disused salt quarry near Stoke-on-Trent. Samantha was last seen smiling as she left the city's hospital after a night shift on Friday, July 27, but vanished - and a neighbour claimed they heard screams from her home later that day. Stirling, whose wife Katie is the sister of Samantha’s ex-fiance Jon Peake, had already been held on suspicion of kidnap last week and was re-arrested on suspicion of murder last night as police continue to search his home in Stoke. Today he appeared for three-minutes at North Staffordshire Magistrates' Court where he confirmed his name, address and date of birth but did not enter a plea. He was remanded in custody and will appear at Stafford Crown Court on Wednesday. Two other men, aged 28 and 60, were held on suspicion of assisting an offender and bailed last night. The 60-year-old is believed to be the murder suspect's father Stephen Stirling. Today it was claimed that in the weeks before she vanished Miss Eastwood had told a colleague she had been threatened and asked the unnamed hospital worker to call the police if she failed to turn up for work. Michael Stirling, 32, is taken away in a prison van today (left) after appearing in court for the first time accused of murdering midwife Samantha Eastwood (right) Samantha was allegedly murdered by Stirling, who is the brother-in law of her ex-fiancé John Peake (together left) and married to Mr Peake's sister Katie Stirling (together right) Stirling, 32, (left sketched in the dock today, and right on his wedding day) was initially arrested on suspicion of kidnap before being rearrested on suspicion of murder yesterday The midwife's body was found dumped at this disused salt quarry in Caverswall near Stoke-on-Trent on Saturday - eight days after she vanished Timeline: Police hunt for missing midwife Friday, July 27 7.45am: Samantha Eastwood finishes her night shift at Royal Stoke Hospital and drives home in her Volvo SUV 2pm: Neighbour hears a scream from her home - but it is not reported to police until after she disappeared 7pm: Fellow midwives report her missing when she fails to show for her shift Saturday, July 28 Midday: Police search her empty home in Baddeley Green Sunday July 29 8am: Police launch first public appeal for information to find her 2pm: A 32-year-old man is arrested on suspicion of kidnap Monday July 30 5pm: Suspect is released on bail Tuesday July 21 4.15pm: Police release CCTV of her leaving work on Friday as it emerged she had called off her wedding at the last minute and tried to sell her wedding dress Wednesday August 1 1pm: New appeals by her family for anyone who has seen her as it emerged police have been at home of her former fiance's sister and her husband since the weekend Friday August 3 Samantha's sister Gemma makes a tearful appeal for information about her whereabouts. Tellingly she said that if anyone knew where she was they should 'Get her home'. Saturday August 4 Midday: Police teams start searching woodland outside Stoke-on-Trent before finding her body disused salt quarry. Sunday August 5 10am: Michael Stirling - the brother-in-law of her ex-fiance - is charged with her murder. Two other men, aged 28 and 60, held on suspicion of assisting an offender have been bailed Monday August 6 Stirling appears in court - but does not enter a plea Advertisement Yesterday, police made the unusual decision to publicly confirm that Miss Eastwood’s ex-fiance, John Peake, 34, was not one of three men being held in connection with her murder. His Facebook profile has been targeted with abusive comments and threats from internet trolls. Miss Eastwood had not been seen since Friday, July 27, when she was seen smiling as she left Royal Stoke University Hospital after a night shift. CCTV then showed her driving towards home in her Volvo XC60 SUV and she was not seen again. Her body was found during a search of a disused salt quarry in remote woodland in Caverswall, near Cheadle, Staffordshire. A post-mortem examination was carried out yesterday - but the results have not been made public by Staffordshire Police. Yesterday, police made the unusual decision to publicly confirm that Miss Eastwood’s ex-fiance, John Peake, 34, was not one of three men being held in connection with her murder. His Facebook profile has been targeted with abusive comments from internet trolls. Miss Eastwood and Mr Peake had been a couple for seven years and were due to marry in June, but the midwife ended their engagement at the start of the year. Mr Peake moved out of the home she bought in 2016 at Stockton Brook on the edge of Stoke-on-Trent and now lives on his own. Yesterday police were seen entering a house in the Northwood area of the city owned by Mr Peake’s sister Katie Stirling, 32, and her husband Michael. The semi-detached property became a focus of the police hunt for Miss Eastwood last week. An officer present yesterday confirmed the address was now being treated as a crime scene. A statement from Staffordshire Police said: 'Detectives investigating the death of 28-year-old Samantha Eastwood have charged a man with her murder. 'Michael Stirling, aged 32, from Cromer Road, Stoke-on-Trent will appear before North Staffordshire Magistrates Court tomorrow morning. 'The body of Samantha was discovered during a police search of rural ground near to Caverswall on Saturday August 4. She had been reported missing on Friday July 27. 'Two other men aged 60 and 28, who were arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender, have been released on conditional bail while inquiries are ongoing'. COlleagues of Samantha's wipe away tears as they read notes left with flowers outside the University Hospital of North Staffordshire in Stoke-On-Trent today Tributes have poured in for Samantha, who was described as a lovely lady as well as a skilled and compassionate midwife A plinth has been put up outside the hospital entrance, where Samantha worked for six years Parents whose children were delivered by 'amazing' midwife raise cash for her funeral A fundraising page has been set up to generate donations towards covering the cost of Samantha's funeral. Sister Gemma Eastwood, 26, shared the GoFundMe page on her Facebook page and wrote: "This has been set up so we can give me sister the send off she deserves." The page was set up by friend Beth Taylor on Sunday and it has already raised £3,400 towards its £10,00 target in less than 24 hours. Many who have donated say Samantha helped bring their children into the world. Sarah Williams wrote: 'Samantha I cannot thank you enough for all you did for me and my twins. You were amazing. Fly high beautiful'. Claire Turner said: 'Sam helped me recently in hospital though a very difficult time, I'm shocked and upset with whats happened to her'. Dawn Fowell wrote: 'I wasn't told that my son was dehydrated until she took over at the weekend . She couldn't of done more she helped me express and feed my son every 3 hours and constantly checked on us, he was soon a lively little baby boy all thanks to her'. You can donate HERE Advertisement The house is less than four miles from the Bucknall home of Mr Stirling’s parents, Stephen, 60, who is believed to work in a garage, and 57-year-old wife Carol. Officers searched the home yesterday and a small white van was seen being taken away by police on Saturday. Last night it was claimed that Miss Eastwood had told a colleague at Royal Stoke University Hospital she had been threatened in the period leading up to her disappearance. A source said: ‘[After this] Samantha asked one of her colleagues to report it if she didn’t turn up for work.<doc-sep>
THE brother-in-law of Samantha Eastwood’s ex-fiance today appeared in court charged with her murder. Michael Stirling, 32, stood in the dock at North Staffordshire Magistrates’ Court this morning and was remanded in custody. 19 Michael Stirling was pictured after his appearance at court this morning Credit: SWNS:South West News Service He was not required to enter any pleas during the three-minute hearing and spoke to only confirm his name, address and date of birth. Stirling, from Stoke-on-Trent, was charged with murder between July 26 and August 5 and will appear at Stafford Crown Court on August 8. Police have been probing claims that Stirling fell out with the midwife, 28, whose body was found near the city. He was arrested along with his 60-year-old father Stephen, who is being quizzed for possibly assisting an offender. 19 Victim Samantha Eastwood and ex John Peake, seen with his sister Katie and her husband Michael Stirling (right) 19 He arrived at court after being charged last night Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd 19 Fencing worker Michael Stirling, whose wife Katie is the sister of Samantha’s ex John Peake A body found on wasteland on Saturday was confirmed to be Samantha’s yesterday morning after the 28 year old had been missing eight days. And according to the Daily Mail, Samantha told a co-worker at Royal Stoke University Hospital she had been threatened before her disappearance. A source told the paper: “Samantha asked one of her colleagues to report it if she didn’t turn up for work. “And that is what happened on the Friday night, that is why the police were called so quickly. “She must have feared something like this would happen – that’s why she set up this raising the alarm thing with her colleague.” A GoFundMe page set up to raise money for the tragic midwife's funeral has already made more than £3,600. 19 Stirling appeared in court for the three-minute hearing Credit: Caters News Agency 19 The arrests came amid claims of a fall-out between Michael and midwife Samantha, pictured at work Credit: BPM Media 19 Stirling appeared at North Staffordshire Magistrates' Court on Monday morning Credit: The Press Association Sister Gemma Eastwood, 26, shared the page and wrote: "This has been set up so we can give my sister the send off she deserves." The page was set up by friend Beth Taylor on Sunday and it has already raised a third of the £10,00 target. A message on the page reads: "Samantha was a lovely young woman who helped to bring so many lives into this world. "She had a bright future ahead of her and sadly this was taken away far too soon. Samantha's story has been followed by midwives and NHS workers worldwide. "They have been touched by the kinds words from mothers Samantha had cared for and colleagues who have worked alongside her. "Samantha has been described as a warm, gentle, kind woman and will be remembered for her amazing efforts as a midwife and will be truly missed by many. Police confirm Samantha Eastwood’s body found as devastated family issue heartbreaking statement as they thank those who ‘tried their best’ 19 Colleagues of Samantha Eastwood gather round floral tributes at the University Hospital of North Staffordshire in Stoke-On-Trent Credit: PA:Press Association 19 Heartbroken colleagues left flowers outside the hospital Credit: PA:Press Association 19 She was described as a "dedicated" midwife who worked at the hospital Credit: PA:Press Association 19 Floral tributes were left at the Royal Stoke University hospital in memory of Samantha Eastwood Credit: Caters News Agency 19 Floral tributes were left outside the home of Samantha Eastwood today Credit: PA:Press Association "Samantha's extended NHS family would like to support her mother Carole, and sister Gemma in their time of grief by contributing to Samantha's funeral costs and to ensure one of our shining stars has the send off she deserves." Michael, a fencing worker, married his wife Katie who is the sister of Samantha’s ex John Peake, 34. Cops arrested Michael on suspicion of kidnap last week. He was nicked again following the grim find at Caverswall, near Stoke-on-Trent. Detectives were last night searching his and Katie’s home in the city. Stephen and an unnamed 28-year-old, thought to be a family friend, were being quizzed over assisting an offender. Forensic teams were scouring Stephen and 57-year-old wife Carol’s semi less than a mile from their son’s home. The arrests came amid claims of a fall-out between Michael and Samantha.