A woman who mysteriously disappeared in 1972 from Coventry, West Midlands, has been found alive after more than five decades. Sheila Fox, who was just 16 when she vanished, had been last seen in Coventry city centre. At the time, there were suspicions she may have been in a relationship with an older man, though the police kept an “open mind” about her whereabouts.
Authorities initially speculated that Sheila may have simply moved away without informing anyone, but despite years of investigation, no trace of her was found. After decades without progress, police renewed their appeal for information last week.
A breakthrough came when a single photograph from the time of Sheila’s disappearance was discovered during the investigation. The image was shared in a public appeal, and within hours, members of the public came forward with helpful information, leading to her discovery.
Officials confirmed today that Sheila, now 68, had been found and spoken to in another part of the country. “We are delighted to announce the conclusion of one of West Midlands Police’s longest-running missing person investigations,” said a police spokesperson.
Following the renewed appeal, which featured the newly discovered photograph, police were able to trace Sheila. The spokesperson added, “Sheila was confirmed to be safe and well, finally resolving one of the longest-running missing person cases we have investigated.”
Detective Sergeant Jenna Shaw, from the Cold Case Investigation Team, expressed her excitement: “We’re absolutely delighted to have found Sheila after more than five decades. We thoroughly examined every piece of evidence we could find and, thanks to the help of the public, we were able to locate a photo of Sheila.”
She also praised her team, saying, “I’d like to recognize the work of DC Shaun Reeve, who played a key role in resolving this case with the public’s assistance.”
