Ten years after a teenage mum vanished without trace from her Black Country home, West Midlands Police has issued an anniversary appeal for information that might shed light on her disappearance.
Natalie Putt left her home in Lower Gornal, Dudley on September 1, 2003 - leaving her 11-week old son at the house with relatives - saying she was nipping to the shops.
It was the last reported sighting of the 17 year old and her disappearance remains a mystery.
West Midlands Police detective sergeant Matt Morgan who is overseeing the case said the case remains open and any new information will be investigated.
He said: “The inquiry is still open. It remains a missing persons’ inquiry as there is no evidence she’s been murdered and certainly nothing to suggest she was suicidal at the time she vanished.
“From the day she went missing Natalie’s bank account has remained untouched and the last communication she made was a voicemail on the day suggesting she was planning to visit friends in Tamworth.
“The case is regularly reviewed and any new information passed to us we believe is credible will be followed up. We keep Natalie’s family informed of any developments; understandably they crave answers and we’ll do whatever we can to help them.”
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Natalie had been for a night out with a friend the day before she went missing. She returned home at around 9am and stayed until noon before heading out on a shopping errand.
At the time there were unconfirmed sightings of her in Cradley Heath and Coseley, while officers checked hostels, hospitals and across Natalie’s wider friendship circle in a bid to trace her. She did not take her mobile phone or any possessions.
An 18-year-old local man was arrested in March 2004 in connection with her disappearance but later released without charge.
Underwater search teams have trawled rivers and lakes around her home address while forensics specialists carried out detailed examinations of Natalie’s home.
Det Sgt Morgan, said: “Forensics teams carried out extensive searches and archaeologists used specialist ‘radar’ equipment to reveal any buried items or whether land had been disturbed. Nothing suspicious was uncovered, though, and the search was called off after three days.”
Natalie was described as white, of slim build, and just over 5ft tall with black shoulder-length hair, blue eyes and a pale complexion. She spoke with a Midlands accent and usually wore a pendant necklace with the words ’someone special’ engraved on it.
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Det Sgt Morgan added: “If anyone has any niggling suspicions about what happened to Natalie, or information they’ve kept to themselves, I’d urge them to contact us.
“Natalie’s family and friends deserve to know what happened to her so they can try to move on with their lives. Anyone with information can contact the team here on the 101 number or the Missing People charity on 116 000.”