Clue in hunt for son missing since 1992
Witness ‘ saw him’ hours after he vanished
DETECTIVES probing the suspected murder of missing Steven Clark say a “significant development” has been made after a potential key witness came forward with new information over the 28- year- old mystery.
The woman has told officers she recalled seeing 23- year- old Steven in his hometown late in the afternoon of Monday, December 28, 1992.
That is the day Steven is said to have “vanished into thin air” while visiting public toilets on a trip to the Cleveland seaside town of Saltburn with his mum Doris.
The 78- year- old and her husband Charles, 81, were arrested earlier this month on suspicion of their son’s murder but have been released on bail pending further investigations.
Now the detective heading the case has revealed how the witness was out with her family and reported seeing Steven pass them as they were walking on the High Street in the Clarks’ hometown of Marske- by- the- Sea in
Redcar. The man believed to be Steven was walking in the opposite direction towards The Ship Inn and it wasn’t yet dark. After seeing the appeal for Steven in 1992 the woman confirmed with her family that it was Steven who they had seen, but did not think it was relevant to the case at that time.
But she went to the police as a result of the new inquiry believing the information could now be significant.
Detective Chief Inspector Shaun Page said: “This is an important development because we know that it got dark that day at around 3.45pm and this potential sighting puts Steven in Marske before that time.
“We have carried out a number of searches in the Marske area and these will be continuing. A lot of people knew Steven and I would again appeal for people to come forward with any information, no matter how small or insignificant they think it is.
“I would like to hear from anyone who saw Steven on the Christmas bank holiday weekend in 1992, which was Friday, December 24, to Monday, December 27.”
An extensive forensic search of Steven’s parents’ house ended on Tuesday.
Steven walked with a pronounced limp as a result of a childhood road accident, which also left him with other disabilities. At the time he disappeared he attended the Rathbone Society in Redcar, which worked with people with disabilities to improve employment skills, and he had won the Apprentice of the Year Award.