Our son was happy & had a girlfriend before just vanishing...
Couple’s TV plea to find Steven
A COUPLE who were quizzed over the disappearance of their son 29 years ago have said he was happy in the days before he vanished.
Doris and Charles Clark revealed Steven, then 23, also had a girlfriend he would meet in a pub.
The couple spoke ahead of a TV documentary on their arrest following a cold case review in September. They have since been released without charge.
Steven was reported missing after he went into a public toilet at Saltburn, North Yorks, on December 28, 1992. Charles, 78, said: “This relationship with the girl lasted about a week
MISSING Steven disappeared in 92 or 10 days. He liked to go to the local, she was there, they were about the same age. It was days before he went missing.” Charles and Doris, 81 – of Marske – think the girl had nothing to do with their son vanishing. Cleveland and North Yorkshire Police cold case review team believe Steven was in a relationship with a girl he met at the Rathbone Society, which helped get disabled people into work.
They felt it showed he was happy when he went missing.
The documentary shows Doris in tears when a police letter informs them they are freed from bail but still under investigation, and may be reinterviewed. She says: “The nightmare continues.” Doris agreed to film the documentary in a bid to find their son, who was left with a permanent limp and damaged arm when he was hit by a lorry aged two.
She added: “We are innocent. Your mind plays tricks. It was a horrible world out there even 30 years ago so you do think of the worst that could happen.”
Three alleged sightings feature in the TV report, one at 3pm on December 28.
Doris said: “That is the time that the police suggested we murdered him. They said we had about an hour to have done away with him. It is ridiculous.”
Cleveland Police said: “We checked several reported sightings, but no one has come forward to say they saw Steven in Saltburn on the day he disappeared.” ■ Accused of Murdering Our Son – The Steven Clark Story, ITV, 9pm, Thursday.
We are innocent. Your mind plays tricks. It was a horrible world, even 30 years ago
DORIS CLARK ON STEVEN’S DISAPPEARANCE & THEIR ARREST