Woman missing for 52 years found alive after police release photo

Sheila Fox, missing since 1972, found alive in the UK after 52 years thanks to a newly released photo.

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A woman who disappeared from Coventry in 1972 has been found alive, ending one of the West Midlands Police’s longest-running missing person investigations.

Sheila Fox, who vanished over five decades ago, was located after the police released a blurry photograph of her from around the time she went missing.

At the time of her disappearance, Fox was a 19-year-old living with her parents in Coventry. She was last seen on a shopping trip in the city center and had been due to return home that afternoon.

However, she never arrived. Despite extensive investigations and searches at the time, no significant leads emerged, and she was listed as missing. Her disappearance had long baffled both her family and the police.

In the years following, the investigation had been periodically reopened, with little success. The case became one of the West Midlands Police's longest-running missing person files, and Sheila Fox’s name was added to the growing list of cases with no closure.

In December 2023, West Midlands Police revived the case, publishing a renewed appeal for information. Officers included a newly discovered, grainy photograph of Ms. Fox taken around the time of her disappearance.

The photograph, though unclear, proved instrumental when members of the public came forward with crucial information.

Photo: West Midlands Police

Police confirmed that Sheila Fox is alive, safe, and now living in another part of the country. "We're absolutely delighted to have found Sheila after more than five decades," said Detective Sergeant Jenna Shaw from the Cold Case Investigation Team. "We searched through every piece of evidence we could find and managed to locate a photo of Sheila."

The case’s resolution highlights the significance of advancements in forensic and technological methods, which allowed officers to revisit old cases and pursue new leads.

The photograph was a pivotal moment, with DC Shaun Reeve credited for his perseverance in solving the case.

The successful resolution of Ms. Fox’s case offers hope for other cold cases, showing how breakthroughs in modern investigative techniques can lead to the reopening of long-unsolved investigations.

Sheila Fox’s family, who had lived with years of uncertainty, now have answers, and while her disappearance remains a mystery, her return brings a measure of closure.

Police continue to emphasize that every missing person has a story, and their families deserve to know what happened to them.