AFTER Six Months, Still No Trace Of Missing Woman Margaret FlemingPOLICE have renewed their appeal to the public over the disappearance of 36-year-old Margaret Fleming, six months to the day she was reported missing by her carers from her home in Inverkip.
Since October, specialist search teams have been carefully sifting through the house where Margaret is believed to have lived with her two carers to find any documentation, clothing and personal items that could assist in finding her.
Support from expert resources has been used including air support, dive and marine unit, dog unit and search specialists, who have been combing the Inverkip and wider Inverclyde area to find any trace of her.
— Right, photos of Margaret issued by police at the time she was reported missing
Over the last few months, a team of uniformed officers and detectives led by Detective Chief Inspector Paul Livingstone has been working to piece together Margaret’s background history and movements over the years to find out more about her. This includes tracing and engaging with family members, friends, education authorities, employers and any contacts through health, revenue and welfare.
The search of the five-bedroom house beside the A78 near Inverkip, began in November 2016 and extended into the garden, where excavation work was carried out to more than half an acre of land by forensic experts.
Apart from her carers, the last independent sighting of Margaret was on 17 December 1999 at a family gathering.
Police at the house near Inverkip in December
Detective Chief Inspector Paul Livingstone said: “There have been extensive enquiries over the last six months as we try to piece together Margaret’s life. A team of dedicated officers has been sifting through thousands of items, paperwork, documents, and articles taken from the house. We’ve been in contact with around 1,200 individuals and organisations who may have had contact with Margaret in an effort to trace her and more than 200 have still to get back to us so we have some lines of enquiry still to follow up.
“Over the course of the six months, we’ve taken over 500 witness statements from people. The search we’ve carried out in the house and the grounds extended over 500 meters of the house, into nearby water and woodland. The search has now finished but was intensive and methodical and the area searched in the garden alone was around half a hectare, which is a huge area.
“Whilst we are keeping an open mind — her carers state that Margaret has a private side to her life, possibly having friends that they are not aware of — we cannot rule out the possibility that she has come to harm in some way. By this I mean that she could have had an accident, possibly wanted to be missing or even something more sinister.
“We’re continuing our enquiries within her family and friends, both in Scotland and overseas, to try to glean any more information that means we can trace her safe and well.
“We remain in contact with Margaret’s mother, who understandably is shocked and distressed at her disappearance. Her carers have been assisting us with our enquiries, and the strength of feeling and support from local residents in the Inverkip area has been welcomed.
“A key focus for me is to speak to anyone who may have been in the house in Inverkip. Whether they have taken a delivery there, cold-called for a charity, picked anyone up in a taxi or visited for social reasons, I need them to get in touch with us.
“Margaret is still being considered a missing person and I reiterate my appeal to anyone who may have known Margaret from 1999 until now, and knew she had been living at the house in Inverkip to get in touch. The key to finding Margaret is through people coming forward with information about her.”
Margaret is described as around 5ft 5 inches in height, with collar-length black hair and brown eyes. She is described as being of heavy build. When last seen, she was wearing a green tartan fleece or jumper, dark jeans or trousers, and dark ‘Karrimor’ type boots. She also had a satchel-type handbag. Margaret is also believed to have learning difficulties.
Police can be contacted on 101.
