The mother of a man who disappeared after a night out in North Shields 24 years ago says her family is still "waiting and wondering" what happened to him. Robert Scott Clive, 30, went missing after a night out in the town.
Scott had been working as a labourer and living in a bedsit in Prudhoe Terrace, North Shields, when he vanished on October 10, 2002. He was reported missing by his family in Scotland after no one heard from him for several days.
Murder probe and river search
Scott's disappearance was initially treated as a missing persons case, but within weeks a murder probe was launched. However, a body has never been found. In 2008, police divers searched the River Tyne for Scott after a new witness told of seeing a man matching his description in the early hours of October 11. While no trace of him was found, police told Scott's family they believed he had gone into the river.
A new investigation was launched in 2024 after fresh information was shared with police, and a home on Coronation Street was later searched by forensics officers in February 2025. Northumbria Police believed that Scott could have been assaulted the night he went missing.
Arrests and closed investigation
Three people were arrested on suspicion of murder, but those suspects — two men aged in their 40s and 50s respectively and a woman in her 40s — were told they would face no further police action earlier this year. The investigation was also closed at this time.
For Scott's mum Tricia, it's vital to still keep his name in the headlines. She said: "We just need to keep shouting his name. We are still waiting and wondering - what the heck happened that night? We just have to keep plugging away. There were the three arrests but the police had to let them go and we are no further forward.
"It will be 25 years next year, we just can't believe it. I'm 75, all the kids have grown up, Scott's sisters have been married, they've kids of their own..."
Grief and unanswered questions
Tricia explained that as the years go by — and it closes on a quarter of a century since she last saw Scott — the grief does not get easier. She said: "It's the biggest thing. We just don't know what happened. It can hit you from anywhere. One day you might think you're fine, but then something just gets you."
Previously, Tricia has spoken of how she is "convinced" that somebody in North Shields knows what happened to Scott. In March this year, she said: "I still think it's being talked about. I'm sure somebody knows."
On closing the newest investigation, Det Chief Insp Mark Atherton, who led it, said officers had now "exhausted" all lines of enquiry, but would consider any new information that came to light. At the time, he said: "Our thoughts very much remain with Scott's family and I want to recognise the strength they continue to show and the support they have provided the latest investigation. We have exhausted all lines of enquiry currently available to us in an effort to try to provide them with the answers they deserve.
"With no new leads and insufficient evidence to progress further, the difficult decision has been made to draw this current investigation to a close. We remain open-minded about what happened to Scott – and should any new information come forward, this will be looked into."
