A 62-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murdering a teenage girl who disappeared 28 years ago, in the second arrest linked to the cold case. Donna Keogh, 17, was last seen in Middlesbrough town centre in 1998, and her body has never been found.
Second Arrest in Connection with Donna Keogh’s Murder
Cleveland Police confirmed that officers arrested the 62-year-old man in Manchester on Friday morning. He remains in custody and will be interviewed. This follows the arrest of a 64-year-old man on suspicion of murder in Leeds earlier this year.
Senior investigating officer Evan Kirtley said: “This morning we have made a second arrest in connection with the murder of Donna Keogh. The man remains in police custody, where he will be interviewed. We remain in close contact with Donna’s family and they are being kept fully updated.”
Details of Donna Keogh’s Disappearance
Donna was described as 5 ft 2 inches tall, of slim build, with blonde hair tied in a leopard-skin bobble. She was last seen wearing a sky blue backless/sleeveless dress and black knee-length boots with a crocodile design. Her disappearance was not reported to police until one month after she vanished.
Two men were arrested on suspicion of murder in 1999, but no charges were brought. Cleveland Police later publicly apologised for failings in the initial investigation.
Family’s Decades of Heartache
Donna’s parents, Brian and Shirley, told Teesside Live they have “never gotten on with their lives” since her disappearance. “Time has stood still with us,” they said.
Donna was reportedly living in a flat with her cousin at the time. A friend who was among the last to see her said she was safe at a property with four other men, where she was allegedly given money to buy cigarettes. However, the alarm was raised after the parents were told “sinister things” had happened to Donna.
Operation Resolute and Ongoing Investigation
In 2016, police launched Operation Resolute to determine Donna’s fate, taking 1,788 statements. Investigators excavated an allotment in Teesside after finding human remains, but forensic testing revealed they dated to the Middle Ages.
Detective Superintendent Kirtley added: “Donna’s family have lived with unbearable uncertainty for nearly 30 years as they need answers as to what happened to Donna, and we are determined to find those answers for them. Somebody out there knows what happened and could tell us, in order to give the family some comfort and peace, after all this time. If you have information, please tell us. You can contact us directly or report anonymously.”
Crimestoppers is offering a £20,000 reward for information leading to the conviction of those responsible for Donna’s suspected murder.
