This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-coventry-warwickshire-18516902#sa-ns_mchannel=rss&ns_source=PublicRSS20-sa
The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 6 | Version 7 |
---|---|
Nicola Payne: Two arrests in missing mum search | Nicola Payne: Two arrests in missing mum search |
(about 4 hours later) | |
Police investigating the disappearance of a Coventry mother last seen 21 years ago have arrested two men. | Police investigating the disappearance of a Coventry mother last seen 21 years ago have arrested two men. |
Nicola Payne went missing from the Wood End area in December 1991. She was 18 and had a six-month-old son. | Nicola Payne went missing from the Wood End area in December 1991. She was 18 and had a six-month-old son. |
West Midlands Police began searching parkland off Purcell Road on Tuesday after receiving new information. | |
Det Ch Insp Matt Markham said a 74-year-old man and a 45-year-old had been arrested on suspicion of conspiring to prevent the lawful burial of a body. | Det Ch Insp Matt Markham said a 74-year-old man and a 45-year-old had been arrested on suspicion of conspiring to prevent the lawful burial of a body. |
He said the arrests of the men, both local to Coventry, were "directly linked" to the new information police officers had been given. | |
"News of these arrests may cause people to reconsider their position and if they haven't so far felt able to come forward with information, then I would urge them to now do so in light of these arrests," he said. | |
Excavation work | Excavation work |
The latest search has focused on a section of woodland and involved using specially-trained dogs along with ground X-ray and metal detection equipment. | |
Police said reasonable progress was being made with clearing the ground with a view to some excavation work taking place later in the search. | Police said reasonable progress was being made with clearing the ground with a view to some excavation work taking place later in the search. |
Det Ch Insp Markham said: "We're committed to doing a detailed and thorough job, we owe that to Nicola's family and friends and the community of north east Coventry for whom this was a significant event." | Det Ch Insp Markham said: "We're committed to doing a detailed and thorough job, we owe that to Nicola's family and friends and the community of north east Coventry for whom this was a significant event." |
Police are also searching an address in nearby Miles Meadow in connection with the investigation. | |
Miss Payne's parents, John and Marilyn, said they were being kept fully informed by officers. | Miss Payne's parents, John and Marilyn, said they were being kept fully informed by officers. |
In a statement, released through the police, they said: "As there is a lot of information for us to currently take in, we would please ask that you respect our privacy while this is happening. | In a statement, released through the police, they said: "As there is a lot of information for us to currently take in, we would please ask that you respect our privacy while this is happening. |
"We hope the arrests and activity will allow anyone who may have important information to come forward and speak to the police. | "We hope the arrests and activity will allow anyone who may have important information to come forward and speak to the police. |
"We can then finally find out what has happened to Nicola." | "We can then finally find out what has happened to Nicola." |
Miss Payne was last seen near to the Black Pad in Wood End on 14 December 1991. | Miss Payne was last seen near to the Black Pad in Wood End on 14 December 1991. |
In 2007, a man was arrested in connection with her disappearance and released on bail. | |
No-one has been charged in connection with the case. |