DNA tests fail to yield any suspects in case of Claudia Lawrence
AN ATTEMPT to solve the mystery of missing Claudia Lawrence using DNA analysis has drawn a blank, police have revealed.
North Yorkshire Police confirmed that after two years of work, DNA analysis, which was the one remaining line of inquiry, had not yielded any suspects.
The senior investigating officer in the case, Detective Superintendent Dai Malyn, said Claudia’s family had been updated and remain “desperate for a breakthrough”.
The disappearance of the 35-year-old chef,
in 2009 sparked one of Britain’s biggest missing persons inquiries.
A team has used the national police database to look for DNA profiles similar to multiple unidentified samples recovered during the investigation, including a partial DNA profile found on a cigarette from Miss Lawrence’s car.
People with similar DNA profiles were visited and their family trees were researched to see if there was anyone possibly linked to the investigation.
Det Supt Malyn said: “While these enquiries have been worthwhile and necessary to the investigation, they concluded without identifying a possible suspect or suspects from the DNA analysis.
“However, it demonstrates that we will continue to use forensic and other investigative work to progress this review.
“As I have said before, the investigation will always remain open and we still receive information on a weekly basis that requires assessment and follow-up.”
Martin Dales, friend and spokesman for Claudia’s father, Peter Lawrence, said they shared the police’s disappointment and appealed for information that would “find Claudia”.
He said: “Someone knows something but the something is being withheld, which after nearly 10 years is both wrong and cruel to Claudia’s family.”
The case is now being handled by the cold case team, part of the joint Cleveland and North Yorkshire Major Investigation Team.
A total of four men have been arrested on suspicion of Miss Lawrence’s murder since she disappeared, but proceedings against all four have been dropped because of lack of evidence.