One of UK’s longest missing person cases solved after woman found 50 years on

One of Britain’s longest running missing person cases has finally been solved – after more than 50 years.

Sheila Fox, from Coventry, vanished from the city centre when she was aged 16 in 1972.

At the time of her disappearance she was living with her parents and police said she may have been in a relationship with an older man.

Police issued a fresh appeal to find her last week, saying they were keeping an ‘open mind’ in case she simply moved away from the area without telling anyone.

Despite there having been no trace of her in the intervening five decades, detectives have revealed Sheila, now 68, has been found safe and well living in another part of the country.

A police spokesperson said: ‘We are delighted to announce the conclusion of one of West Midlands Police’s longest-running missing person investigations.

‘We recently published a renewed appeal to help find Sheila Fox, who went missing from Coventry in 1972.

‘A single photo of Sheila from around the time of her disappearance was found by officers investigating and published on our website and social media.

‘Within hours of the appeal, members of the public got in touch with information which led the team to her.

‘Sheila was confirmed to be safe and well and living in another part of the country, finally resolving one of the longest running missing person cases we have investigated.’

Detective Sergeant Jenna Shaw, from the force’s Cold Case Investigation Team, said: ‘We’re absolutely delighted to have found Sheila after more than five decades.

‘We searched through every piece of evidence we could find and managed to locate a photo of Sheila.

‘We are a small team of officers, and I’d like to recognise the work of DC Shaun Reeve, who managed to resolve this case with help from the public.

‘Every missing person has a story, and their families and friends deserve to know what happened to them and, hopefully, be reunited with them.’

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