Mum feared dead 55 years after 'vanishing' and five after being reported missing

Isabella Skelton was past seen successful the Crumpsall country of Manchester connected June 5, 1969, but was not reported missing until 50 years aboriginal successful 2019, with constabulary present issuing a caller appeal

In a renewed telephone for information, constabulary are asking the nationalist to travel guardant with leads successful the tragic acold lawsuit of Isabella Skelton, a Scottish parent who vanished implicit 55 years agone and is present feared to person been murdered.

Originally from Glasgow, Skelton was past spotted successful Manchester's Crumpsall country connected June 5, 1969. After relocating southbound with her household during the 1960s, she disappeared astatine the property of 35. But it was lone successful December of past twelvemonth that Greater Manchester Police (GMP) upgraded the lawsuit to a execution investigation.

Although 1 idiosyncratic has been questioned nether caution connected suspicion of her murder, charges person yet to beryllium brought. Over the years, Skelton's relatives person employed assorted methods, including hiring a genealogist, to find her.

It wasn't until 2019 that her girl discovered her parent had ne'er been officially reported missing. In 2021, detectives conducted a three-month forensic hunt and excavation astatine her past known residence, but nary quality remains oregon definitive grounds were recovered reports the Daily Record.

Martin Bottomley, who leads GMP's Cold Case Review Unit, made an quality connected BBC One's Crimewatch Live to promote the nationalist to supply immoderate accusation they mightiness have. He commented: "She was lone reported formally missing successful 2019 and we could find nary carnal oregon integer hint of Isabella astatine that time."

He added, "It changed from a missing persons probe to a transgression investigation."

In 2021, detectives carried retired a three-month forensic hunt and excavation of her past known address. No quality remains oregon conclusive grounds were uncovered.

Martin Bottomley, Head of GMP's Cold Case Review Unit, appeared connected BBC One's Crimewatch Live programme to impulse radical to travel forward. He said: "She was lone reported formally missing successful 2019 and we could find nary carnal oregon integer hint of Isabella astatine that time.

"It changed from a missing persons probe to a transgression investigation.

"We received immoderate accusation that her erstwhile location had been concreted implicit successful the cellar and successful the plot truthful we spent 3 months excavating that location but we recovered nary motion of immoderate quality remains oregon Isabella."

Earlier successful the year, Ms Skelton's daughter, Lynda Chapman, present 70, opened up astir the harrowing days starring up to her parent vanishing earlier her fifteenth birthday.

With palpable pain, she reminisced: "We had a mean household beingness and she was a emblematic mum. She went to enactment and she looked aft the house," adding with a enactment of sadness, "In the opening I was amazed she near earlier my birthday. My dada conscionable told maine that she had gone to enactment distant and that was fundamentally it. You request a parent and I recovered not having 1 traumatic."

Skelton's communicative began successful Glasgow, calved connected January 21, 1934, surviving successful the Anderson area, tied the knot with Lewis Skelton successful 1952.

The wedded brace archetypal hung their hats connected Carnoustie Street, Tradeston area, past hitched a thrust to Greater Manchester successful the '60s. Initially mounting up campy successful Salford, they soon called Crumpsall home.

Together, they raised 3 kids - Lynda, Richard, and Stephen.

A dedicated worker, Ms Skelton clocked successful astatine Atlas Express successful Salford and Gallagher Cigarettes, with her past occupation astatine Ball Bearings Services anterior to her unexplained disappearance.