THE distraught family of a Cynon Valley teenager who vanished 11 years ago is making a new appeal for information.
Billy Davies, of Hazel Terrace, Perthcelyn, was 16 when he disappeared without trace on February 18, 1997.
It was believed the Mountain Ash teenager was swept away by the swollen River Cynon but his body has never been found.
And on the 11th anniversary of his disappearance, his family has doubts about this theory because Billy, who would now be 27, was terrified of water and would not have gone near the river.
They now plan a new poster campaign in a bid to solve the mystery.
“We want people to cast their minds back and help us find out what really happened to Billy,” said sister Michelle Davies, of Fernhill, Mountain Ash.
“Deep down we fear Billy is dead – but until his body is found there is always that glimmer of hope,” said the mother of three.
“We cannot think of any reason why Billy would choose to disappear.
“He was looking forward to joining the Army and had his whole life ahead of him.”
Before he went missing, Billy was a passenger in a car which was found abandoned near the riverbank in Penrhiwceiber.
One of the car’s occupants later told police he and Billy had entered the river, which was on red flood alert, and Billy had made it to the far bank before he lost sight of him.
But a widespread search for signs of a body, using helicopters, heat-seeking equipment, a sub-aqua team and specially trained sniffer dogs, failed to find him.
Despite fears that Billy is dead, the family has turned to the National Missing Persons Helpline for any help it can get in tracing him.
Michelle is also desperate to speak to the friend who was with Billy that fateful night but she has no idea where he now lives and hopes he will respond to the fresh appeal for information.
Billy’s heartbroken mother Jennifer, aged 58, has never come to terms with the disappearance of her youngest child.
His brother Steven, aged 36, has had Billy’s image tattooed on his arm and sister Kelly said not a day goes by when she does not think about her baby brother.
“We need closure – we need to know the truth about what happened to Billy and finally lay him to rest,” said Michelle.
South Wales Police confirmed the investigation remains ongoing and lines of inquiry are being followed.
l Eight-year hunt for another missing man – Page 4.
