A HEARTBROKEN family have desperately appealed to find a woman who vanished almost 50 years ago as a 14-year-old schoolgirl.
Suzanne Lawrence disappeared in 1979 after leaving home with her 13-year-old sister Michelle in Harold Hill, east London, and has long been feared to be murdered.
Suzanne Lawrence may look like this now, according to cops Credit: Met Police
Suzanne went missing in 1979, nearly five decades ago Credit: Met Police
They told their mum they were staying with friends in Dagenham, but Michelle returned home alone five days later after the two had a row.
The pair had met three boys, aged around 14 to 17, at a fair in Highbury Fields, north London, who police believe may now hold “vital information”.
They were taken to a nearby squat where they stayed for two nights before Michelle returned home.
She expected her Suzanne to come home the next day, but she has not been seen since.
Nearly 50 years on, the case has never been closed.
Met Cops originally believed Suzanne joined the travelling fair, but are still exploring the circumstances of her disappearance – including if she came to harm.
Detectives from the Met’s East Area Missing Persons Unit, who have reviewed the case, are now appealing for any information that could help them establish what happened to the schoolgirl.
Suzanne’s sister Michelle Hooper, who is supporting the latest police appeal, said that “not a day goes by without wondering what happened to her”.
She said: “I was the last member of the family to be with my sister before she disappeared.
“We left home together and for a period we were both trying to survive away from home. Eventually I returned, but Suzanne did not.
“Many years have passed, but not a day goes by without wondering what happened to her.
“Our mother is now elderly and, like me, has lived for decades without knowing what became of her daughter. No family should have to endure such uncertainty for so long.
Suzanne could also look like this now
Suzanne’s cases was also linked to Robert Black who killed four young girls between 1981 and 1986 and died behind bars in 2016 Credit: PA
“If anyone remembers seeing us, helping us, giving us somewhere to stay, or speaking to my sister during those days in the of 1979, please come forward. Even the smallest piece of information could be important.
“If my sister is alive, I want her to know that she has never been forgotten. If anyone knows what happened to her, I ask them to do the right thing and speak to the police.”
Cops also prepared two e-fit images of how Suzanne, who would now be aged 61, may look now after decades have passed.
Detective Chief Inspector Kam Sodhi, who is leading the Met’s , said: “We’re committed to getting answers for Suzanne’s family, even after all these years.
“After they left the family home, Suzanne and her younger sibling are believed to have experienced a brief period of .
“During that period, we believe that three boys aged approximately 14 to 17 years, believed to be from the Highbury or Islington area, met the sisters and took them to a local squat.
“I believe these individuals may hold vital information about Suzanne’s movements after her sister returned home and I would urge them to come forward.
“We are also particularly interested in hearing from anyone who knew the family, attended school with Suzanne, helped either child, or had any contact with them during the summer of 1979.
“Relationships and circumstances change over time. Information that may once have seemed insignificant could now be vital to finding answers for her family.
“I’d also appeal to Suzanne herself, if she is reading this, to get in touch with us.”
Suzanne was thought to have been murdered after going missing in 1979, according to some detectives.
The 14-year-old was last seen in north London, at a fair, near to where lived.
After his arrest cops found an orange and pink bracelet in his home – it is thought he may have kept the woven trinket as a trophy.
Ex-detective Russ Allen wrote a book on the case called Murder of Childhood, where he said the evidence suggested he had been involved as Suzanne had been wearing a bracelet at the time she disappeared.
He recalled in 2018: “When we raided Black’s flat we found, on the mantel shelf, an identical bracelet.
“It’s not conclusive, but it is strong circumstantial evidence.”
Suzanne’s case was also linked to -based serial killer.
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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