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02/07/94 - Police fear for
missing three-year-old
IAN MACKINNON
Independent
POLICE are due to resume the search this morning for a
three- year- old girl who disappeared after buying an
ice-cream from a van yards from her home in Hartlepool,
Cleveland.
More than 100 neighbours, friends and family members have
joined the 80 police hunting for Rosie Palmer, who went
missing on Thursday afternoon from the Headland area of
the town. Coastguard teams combed the shoreline and nearby
cliff-tops, assisted by the Northumbria police helicopter,
and co-ordinated a sea- search by the Sunderland lifeboat,
inshore rescue craft and fishing vessels.
But Detective Chief Inspector Ray Mallon, leading the
investigation, said he could not rule out the possibility
that she had been abducted, although he was keeping an
open mind.
The girl's mother, Beverley, made an emotional appeal
for her return at a news conference yesterday, begging
anyone who might be holding Rosie to let her go. 'I just
want my little girl back,' she said. 'She is only three
and if someone has got her, please let her go. If anyone
knows where she is, or if someone has seen her, please
tell the police, I beg you.'
The search area widened as the concern of police and residents
grew with each hour. No clues emerged as to her disappearance
within 10 yards of her home. Rosie, who attends St Helens
Nursery, was collected by her stepfather, John Thornton,
at 2.40pm and taken home where she played with some friends
until she heard the ice-cream van.
Wearing red and white gingham shorts, a white T-shirt
with a daisy motif on the front, white training shoes,
a red baseball cap and spectacles, she was last seen by
her mother who had given her money to buy an ice-cream
at 3.30pm. She bought an ice lolly but then vanished.
Neighbours quickly began looking for her, but the police
were not told until just after 8.30pm.
Her mother, a midwife who works part time at Hartlepool
hospital, moved to Bristol several years ago where she
met her husband, Martin, a commercial lawyer. But shortly
after Rosie's birth they split up and Mrs Palmer returned
to Hartlepool, where she lives with Mr Thornton, 46.
Mr Palmer kept in regular touch with his daughter and
was said to be distraught at her disappearance. Two detectives
yesterday travelled to Bristol to meet him, although officers
said there was nothing to suggest that he was involved.
Det Chief Insp Mallon praised the efforts of local residents
who were stunned by the disappearance. He said: 'We have
received tremendous support from local people. As the
news of Rosie's disappearance spread we were overwhelmed
by the number of residents who have helped us search throughout
the night.'
He described Hartlepool as 'quite a small, tight-knit
community' and appealed to everyone to check their gardens,
sheds and outhouses for the little girl.
Later, Detective Superintendent Doug Smith said police
had received a report of a previous abduction attempt
near Rosie's home last year, and were investigating possible
links. 'We are also making inquiries about whether any
suspicious characters have been seen in the area, ' he
added. |
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