COLD CASE

Old Photo Helps Police Find Woman Missing for 52 Years

A half-century-old missing person case was solved after a hopeful appeal by police.

A British woman who went missing 52 years ago has been found alive and well after a fresh police appeal located her living in another part of the country. West Midlands Police sent out a photo appeal on Sunday, perhaps more in hope than expectation. However, just hours after the grainy photo of Sheila Fox went live on their website and social media, they had a lead and were eventually led to Fox, now 68, who had disappeared from the central English city of Coventry in 1972 when she was 16 but was now living elsewhere. A police spokesperson said: “We are delighted to announce the conclusion of one of West Midlands Police’s longest-running missing person investigations.” They continued: “A single photo of Sheila from around the time of her disappearance was found by officers investigating and published on our website and social media. Within hours of the appeal, members of the public got in touch with information which led the team to her.”