A father whose daughter vanished 23 years ago has made a renewed plea for information, saying he wants to know what happened to her before his time is up. Natalie Putt was 17 when she disappeared from her home in Dudley, West Midlands, on September 1, 2003, leaving behind her newborn son.
The young mum left her 11-week-old son with relatives, saying she was 'just popping to the shops' – but she never came back. Despite extensive searches of lakes, graveyards and woodland near her home, a body has never been found. An inquest into her death, heard in 2019, found she most likely died on the day she was last seen.
Father's emotional appeal on anniversary
Now, on the 23rd anniversary of her disappearance, her father David Putt has renewed his appeal for information. Natalie, who would have celebrated her 40th birthday this year, has never been found despite numerous searches and appeals. In a bid to jog memories, David has released family photographs in hopes that someone will come forward.
He said: 'It's been 23 years since Nat went missing, which is a very long time, and this year would have been her 40th birthday. Somebody out there knows something, and I want to ask them to please come forward and contact the police.'
'I don't care how big or small the information may be; the family needs to know what happened to her. I will be 70 next year, and I want to know what happened to her before my time is up.'
Police continue to seek answers
Despite extensive missing person enquiries, a nationwide publicity appeal and multiple searches, Natalie's disappearance remains a mystery. Detective Inspector Jim Church, from West Midlands Police homicide review team, said: 'It's now been 23 years since Natalie went missing and we're still working to get David and her family answers.'
'From the day she disappeared, her bank account has remained untouched; she didn't take any possessions, and the last communication she made with anyone was on that day. Unfortunately, despite our best efforts, Natalie has never been found or heard from since the day she left her home. She was a new mum who loved her son and would never have left him or left her family without reason.'
A local 18-year-old man was arrested in March 2004 in connection with Natalie's disappearance but was later released without charge. Underwater search teams have trawled rivers and lakes near her home; private land in Wombourne, Staffs., was searched, and forensic experts carried out a detailed examination of Natalie's former home. In June 2017, several graves were examined in a Gornal cemetery without any human remains being exhumed. Nothing was found, and the graves were resealed and restored.
Appeal for information
Det Insp Church added: 'I want to appeal to anyone who has any information or saw something that raised their suspicions around that time in the Dudley area or who may have seen Natalie on that day or the ones following. Even if you think it's not relevant, your information could be what we need to put the pieces together. The team and I want to get answers for David and Natalie's family and friends – they deserve to know what happened her.'
Anyone with information can contact police on 101, via Live Chat on the force website or through the missing persons' charity on 116 000.
