The Missing

Lorraine was 35-years-old and lived in Essex. She was last seen by her partner, in 1998, waving him off in a taxi as he took a trip abroad. When he returned, there was no sign of Lorraine, and there have been no sightings since. This episode tells Lorraine’s story and asks listeners if they might hold the vital clue which could finally resolve this mystery. For more information on this case, and e...

Philip was 21 years old when he was last seen leaving a Christmas party, at a Navy barracks in Liverpool. He was last seen getting into a taxi with two women and another man. But from there – what happened to Philip isn’t known. Helicopters and police divers searched 200 miles of coastline, with no trace of him. This episode explores the events around his disappearance, and the efforts from his fa...

Stephen was 21 years old when he travelled to France, to take part in the grape harvest, in 1975. He arrived, and worked on the vineyards. And at the end of picking season he travelled to northern France, by train. But from there – the trail goes cold. This episode asks what happened to Stephen, and follows the clues as to where he went next. For more information on this case, and every episode fr...

This episode takes us into the UK care system – and the story of how a young girl disappeared after a string of failed foster placements. We hear from her sister Rebecca – still desperate for news on what happened to Louise – amid fears that she fell into a dangerous crowd, and perhaps came to harm. Louise was 18 when she vanished, in June 2005, from her home in Durham, with the last sighting a we...

This extraordinary story is a current live investigation. When a body was found floating in the North Sea in July 1994, it was German police who began an investigation – they learned that the man was in his 40’s or 50’s, smartly dressed, and he became known as ‘The Gentleman’. But despite extensive investigations, they couldn’t identify him, and the man was buried in a un-named grave. Now – workin...

Thomas disappeared at the age of 31, in 2003. He was in Italy, in the town of Ancona, when he withdrew some money from an ATM. But from there – there has been no contact from Thomas to his family. This episode explores a brothers love – a story of a man who would often go travelling, on religious pilgrimages, and who would sometimes disappear for periods of time. And it’s a story of hope, that Tho...

In every murder investigation, there's one key item which could bring a killer to justice. But finding it....and knowing what evidence it contains....well that's the challenge. Because the smoking gun could be anything. A bouquet of flowers...a Chinese meal...a mosquito. In this series – Produced by the makers of ‘The Missing’, we tell the remarkable true stories of how everyday items such as thes...

Mary was 6-year-old when she disappeared in March 1977, in the Republic if Ireland. Her case is the longest running missing-child case in Ireland, a mystery which triggered a huge search from the police, army, and hundreds of local volunteers. Mary was last seen walking towards her grandparents farm. But despite that massive land search, no sign of Mary, or where she went, was ever uncovered. For...

Lee was 15 year old, when he was last seen in September 1988, on Sutton High Street. His case is one of the highest profile missing children’s cases – a young lad who had told his parents he was off to watch a football match, but who never returned home. It’s a case which has links to known paedophiles, an extensive nationwide campaign, and a determined effort from Lee’s family to find answers. Fo...

Andrew Capon disappeared on October 2, 1998 after a night out in Ingoldmells. The father of three from Grantham was out with some friends after going to the coast to close down his caravan. He became separated from the group and vanished, never to be seen again. Andrew was last spotted on North Parade in Skegness at around 1am. His ex-partner, Sue, shares her desperation to find out what happened...

Fiona Sinnott, 19, went missing on February 8, 1998, after leaving her local pub in Broadway, Ireland, to make the 14km walk back to her home. She was never seen again. Fiona’s cousin and sister reveal what they believe happened to her, as well as how the family took the search for her into their own hands. And the episode explores a terrifying detail: Fiona is just one of a number of lone women,...

Steven Cooper’s car was found abandoned at Loch Laggan in the Highlands after he drove hundreds of miles from his home near Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, on January 21st, 2008 - his 47th birthday. Extensive searches were carried out over a 50 square-mile area, using RAF helicopters, search dogs and mountain rescue teams but no trace of him has ever been found. His sister Trish Cooper tells The Mis...

On the 29th of October, 2004, a woman was seen jumping from the window of the 21st floor of Wembley Point, London, England. She was wearing a maroon bomber zip-up jacket with fabric cuffs, a black leather glove on her right hand and a very thin black polo neck jumper. Over the top of this, she wore a claret crew neck jumper. She wore black tights, trousers and black Sketchers boots with a zip and...

Gary Burns was working in the Turkish resort of Icmeler when he disappeared without a trace, in the summer of 2016. Originally from Birkenhead, Gary had lived in Turkey for several years, after starting a relationship with a Turkish woman during a holiday. Gary’s family became worried when they didn’t hear from him for a few months, and his brother – Terry – reveals what the years since have been...

Sandy Davidson, 3, disappeared on April 23rd, 1976, while he was playing in the back garden of his house in Irvine, Ayrshire. His two-year-old sister - who was playing with him - provided a key piece of evidence at the time, and tells The Missing how she’ll never stop looking for her brother. For more information on this case, and every episode from every series visit https://themissingpodcast.org...

Kevin Fasting went missing from Liverpool, Merseyside, on November 21st, 2003, leaving behind a note for his children as the only clue to where he’d gone. This episode of The Missing tackles the issue of suicide, and meets a son who will never stop searching. For more information on this case, and every episode from every series visit https://themissingpodcast.org And to visit details of the most...

Maria Bernadette Aldridge was a 17-year-old cadet nurse, who disappeared some time during the summer of 1968, during her second year at a nurse cadet course at City Hospital. Her sister Cathy tells Maria’s story, including the details of a mysterious letter found decades later. For more information on this case, and every episode from every series visit https://themissingpodcast.org And to visit d...

Marcus Rigby - or Marc to his loved ones - disappeared in April 1995, aged 27, after saying he was ‘going away’ and would ‘phone in a week.’ It was a call that has never been made to his family, who were living in Grange-over-Sands at the time of his disappearance. After 27 years, Marc’s family are still full of hope for his reunion with them.  For more information on this case, and every epi...

Nineteen-year-old Luke Durbin went missing in the early hours of Friday, May 12, 2006. Luke, from Hollesley, had gone for a night out with friends in Ipswich on Thursday May 11th, leaving his mobile phone and other personal belongings, including his motorbike, at a friend’s house in Woodbridge. He went to Zest nightclub in Ipswich with friends, but became separated from them during the evening. Lu...

The groundbreaking podcast  The Missing  returns for Season Three. Hosted by journalist Pandora Sykes,  The Missing  looks into the cases of the long-term missing and asks you, the listener, to help. Brought to you in association with charities Locate International and Missing People, every week we explore a different case, hear original interviews with family and friends, and...

What constitutes why some missing persons cases get attention? What are the criteria for a case making national news? And why doesn’t EVERY case receive the same coverage? In our final episode of the series we explore the issue of equality - and ask whether your background or the colour of your skin can influence how your case is reported and investigated.  At a time when the subject of race...

When someone goes missing, it’s often the ‘last sighting’ which is used to try and ascertain why they went, where they went, and what happened to them. But in this case, exactly what IS the last sighting is a part of the debate. Georgina Gharsallah has been missing since 2018 – a young mum who had endured some challenging times – but who had little reason to disappear. The days leading up to her d...

16-year-old Damien is one of the UK’s highest profile missing persons. He vanished after a night out on the Isle of Wight. His Mum Valerie has campaigned for 24 years to try and find answers – amidst rumours of the involvement of a local drug dealer, and claims he was abducted. We re-visit this case and ask whether the islanders are still keeping a secret. For more information on this case, and ev...

How does someone vanish in one of the most populated places in the world – full of CCTV Cameras? Sanjiv boarded a train to Paris in 2013 – buying a return ticket. But after arriving in the French capital, he vanished. And hasn’t been seen or heard from since. His sister talks about the pain of losing her brother, and how the family are baffled with no explanation. For more information on this case...

Karen was 52 years old when she suddenly disappeared from her home in the South Of France. This episode hears from her best friend Claire, who reveals the devastating impact that the disappearance has had on her life. Karen was down, and in a rut, before she vanished. And an argument with her husband led to her wanting a few days to herself. Karen had £6000 on her when she left. But what happened...