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| Garden dug up of missing woman last seen in public in 1999 | Garden dug up of missing woman last seen in public in 1999 |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The garden of a woman reported missing in Inverclyde six weeks ago is to be excavated after it emerged she was last seen in public 17 years ago. | The garden of a woman reported missing in Inverclyde six weeks ago is to be excavated after it emerged she was last seen in public 17 years ago. |
| Police Scotland said that apart from her carers, the last independent sighting of Margaret Fleming was on 17 December 1999 at a family gathering. | Police Scotland said that apart from her carers, the last independent sighting of Margaret Fleming was on 17 December 1999 at a family gathering. |
| The 36-year-old was reported missing by her two carers from her home in Inverkip at about 17:40 on 28 October. | The 36-year-old was reported missing by her two carers from her home in Inverkip at about 17:40 on 28 October. |
| Officers want to hear from anyone who knew Ms Fleming from her college days. | Officers want to hear from anyone who knew Ms Fleming from her college days. |
| Ms Fleming, who is believed to have learning difficulties, is thought to have attended James Watt College in Greenock between 1996 and 1998. | Ms Fleming, who is believed to have learning difficulties, is thought to have attended James Watt College in Greenock between 1996 and 1998. |
| Police said she had few contactable friends or family and checks on education, employment, health and welfare records had shown no trace of her. | Police said she had few contactable friends or family and checks on education, employment, health and welfare records had shown no trace of her. |
| An ongoing search of the house in Main Road, which belonged to her carers, will now extend into the garden. | |
| Police said the work would be extensive, involving some excavation work. | |
| Det Ch Insp Paul Livingstone said they had found no trace of a job, few friends, and no evidence of her contact with partner agencies and local services. | Det Ch Insp Paul Livingstone said they had found no trace of a job, few friends, and no evidence of her contact with partner agencies and local services. |
| "One line of inquiry that I now must consider is the possibility that Margaret may have come to some harm," he said | "One line of inquiry that I now must consider is the possibility that Margaret may have come to some harm," he said |
| "Our search will continue from the house into the grounds around it. | "Our search will continue from the house into the grounds around it. |
| "This is a natural progression in the inquiry to assist our investigation to find Margaret." | "This is a natural progression in the inquiry to assist our investigation to find Margaret." |
| However, he stressed it was still a missing person investigation. | However, he stressed it was still a missing person investigation. |
| "Margaret's carers have said that they believe she has a private side to her life and that she may have friends that they are not aware of," he said. | "Margaret's carers have said that they believe she has a private side to her life and that she may have friends that they are not aware of," he said. |
| He told BBC Scotland that, according to her carers, she had friends she would sometimes visit. | |
| "However, she kept that side very private, so we need to speak to anyone who has had any dealings with Margaret since 1999," he said. | |
| Ms Fleming is described as about 5ft 5in tall, with collar-length black hair, brown eyes and has a heavy build. | Ms Fleming is described as about 5ft 5in tall, with collar-length black hair, brown eyes and has a 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. | 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. |
| It is believed Ms Fleming lived with her father in Port Glasgow before he died in October 1995. | It is believed Ms Fleming lived with her father in Port Glasgow before he died in October 1995. |
| She then lived with her grandparents and mother but moved in with carers, who were close family friends, in 1997. | |
| She is thought to have been estranged from her mother since then. | She is thought to have been estranged from her mother since then. |
| Officers from the Major Investigations Team are now assisting police at Greenock with the investigation. | Officers from the Major Investigations Team are now assisting police at Greenock with the investigation. |