A man from Manchester has been arrested on suspicion of murdering a 17-year-old girl who disappeared in 1998. Donna Keogh's body has never been found after she went missing from Middlesbrough town centre, and detectives believe she was killed shortly after vanishing, Cleveland Police said.
Second Arrest in 28-Year-Old Case
On Friday, July 3, a 62-year-old man was arrested in the Manchester area in connection with the investigation. He remains in police custody and will be interviewed, the force confirmed on Saturday. This is the second arrest in the case; earlier this year, a 64-year-old man from Leeds was arrested on suspicion of Donna's murder and released on bail while inquiries continue.
Detective Inspector Evan Kirtley, deputy senior investigating officer, 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.”
Family's Decades-Long Ordeal
Donna was last seen in Middlesbrough on April 28, 1998, and was known to have traveled to Leeds that year. Her family has endured nearly 30 years of uncertainty. “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,” DI Kirtley added. He appealed for anyone with information to come forward, saying, “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.”
Ongoing Investigation and Reward
Detectives have been conducting inquiries in Leeds in recent months. The charity Crimestoppers is offering a £20,000 reward for information leading to a conviction. In 2018, police excavated an allotment on Teesside and discovered human remains, but forensic tests showed they dated from medieval times, unrelated to Donna's case.
